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APPLETO NS' 

LIBRARY OF POPULAR READING. 

Hfo. 4. Price 25 Cents. 



mammmmamHHaatmmmmmammm^a^^umsmmsammmmaBmmummamemeaBaataaaa^amtaa 



LIFE 

!) 

OP 

MAJOR GENERAL 

ZACHARY TAYLOR; 

WITH AN ACCOUNT 



BEILLIANT ACHIEVEMENTS 

ON THE 

EIO GRANDE AND ELSEWHERE, 

INCLUDING 

THE DEFENCE OF FORT HARRISON AND THE BATTLE 
OF OKEE-CHO-BEE. 

ALSO 

SKETCHES OF THE LIVES AND HEROIC ACTS 



MAJ. RINGGOLD, MAJ. BROWN, COL. CROSS, CAPT. 

MONTGOMERY, CAPT. MAY, CAPT. WALKER, 

LIEUTS. RIDGELEY, BLAKE, JORDAN, etc. 

BY 

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ILLUSTRATED WITH A PORTRAIT OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 



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CWN.Z. TA1 LOR. 



3/A 

LIFE 

OF 

MAJOR-GENERAL 

ZACHARY TAYLOR; 

WITH AN ACCOUNT OF HIS 

BRILLIANT ACHIEVEMENTS ON THE RIO GRANDE. 

AND ELSEWHERE J 

INCLUDING HIS DEFENCE OF FORT HARRISON, AND 
BATTLE OF OKEE-CHO-BEE. 

WITH 

SKETCHES OF THE LIVES AND HEROIC ACTS 

OF 

MAJOR RINGGOLD, COLONEL CROSS, MAJOR BROWN, CAPTAIN MONT- 
GOMERY, CAPTAIN MAY, LIEUT. RIDGLEY, LIEUT. BLAKE, 
CAPT. WALKER, LIEUT. JORDAN, CAPT. LOWD, 

AND OTHERS ; ALSO, 

A LIST OF NAMES OF OFFICERS FROM NEW YORK STATE 

ENGAGED IN THE DEFENCE OF FORT BROWN, AND IN THE ACTIONS 
OF THE 8TH AND 9TH OF MAY. 



WITH PORTRAIT OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 

BY C. FRANK TOWELL, 

AUTHOR OF " DHOONDIAH," ETC. 



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PREFACE, 



The author of the " Life and Times of Louis Phi- 
lippe," says in his preface, " The desire that is implanted 
in the human breast, of approaching those who have 
filled distinguished parts in the theatre of human ac- 
tion — those who have secured the highest pedestals in 
the pantheon of political fame — those who have ac- 
quired a memorable name by the exercise of personal 
authority over a large portion of their fellow-creatures, 
will forever give to biography a high moral influence, 
and an interest superior to any that general history can 
excite. Time intervenes to remove us from a familiar 
intercourse with the greatest characters — space also pro- 
duces a similar separation, but, the evil of both cases has 
found its remedy in the truthful and laborious produc- 
tions of impartial writers." 

These remarks are applicable to the biography before 
us, the latter being representative of the career and 
actions of an individual who has occupied a large space 
in his country's history and affections, and which actions 
should form an interesting and useful portion of our 
political knowledge. Neither can we imagine a task 
that partakes more of the nature of a duty than that 
of commemorating, in a substantial form, the services 
rendered by an individual to his country, especially when 
those services are of a marked and valuable character ; 



4 PREFACE. 

both for the incentive, which is the effect of example. 
and as an act of justice. 

As it lias been our aim to give a truthful presentation 
of all important matters connected with the career of 
the distinguished subject of these pages, so has it been 
our endeavor to do justice to all concerned in the 
events of which they treat. 

The sources from which the material is drawn are 
authentic, and we are not conscious that partiality or 
predilection has exercised an influence in its authorship 
or compilation. As the object has been to make it a 
national work, and one of permanency, no class or 
party has been favored at the expense of another. 

C. F. P. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I 



Nativity of General Taylor,— Education.— His Youth.— Qualities of Mind, etc.— 
Physical Powers. — Joins the Army. — Promoted.— Heroic Defence of Fort Har- 
rison. — Promoted. — In Florida. — Battle of Okee-cho-bee. — Placed at Head of 
Army in Florida. — Resigns. — Takes Command of Second Department 7 

CHAPTER II. 

General Taylor called to Texas.— Object of the Expedition.— -The Policy.— Gen- 
eral Taylor's Position. — Innuendo repelled — General Taylor's grand Plan. — 
Its consummation. — General Survey of the Ground. — Critical Extract 13 

CHAPTER III. 

General Taylor continued. — Critical examination of the Battles of the 8th and 
9th May. — The Light-Artillery Arm. — Investigation of the Causes of these 
Victories. — Demonstrations of Approbation. — President confers a Brevet. — 
Resolutions and Sword of Louisiana and Tennessee. — Thanks of Congress. 
General Taylor's Talents as a Military Man and General.— Qualities of 
Heart. — Personal Appearance. — Rough and Ready. — His Dress. — Character- 
istic Anecdote. — Political Opinions. — Habits, etc < 19 

CHAPTER IV. 

Captain Taylor in 1812. — His gallant defence of Fort Harrison. — His attempt 
to send dispatches to Governor Harrison. — Colonel Russel with his Rangers. ... 30 

CHAPTER V 

General Taylor's Expedition to the Prophet's Town.— Promotion to Major.— Re- 
pairs to Florida. — Battle of Okee-cho-bee 3" 

CHAPTER VI. 

Battle of Okee-cho-bee concluded.— Effect of this Battle.— Colonel Taylor given 
in Command of Posts.— Promotion. — Takes Command of Army in Florida.— 
Resigns, — Ordered to Texas «•«•« « 43 



6 CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER VII. 

Page. 

Major Ringgold. — His Nativity. — Joins General Seott'a Staff — Enters Service 

as Lieutenant — Went to Fori Moultrie. — Assigned to Company C. — Forme 

Company. — The Flying Artillery. — Ordered to Texas. — II cea in 

the Battle of Palo Alto. — Is wounded. — His Death.— Remarks of a Baltimore 

Editor. — Eulogy of a Philadelphia Editor and Judge of Court 50 

CHAPTEK VIII. 
Major Brown. — Colonel Cross, and Captain Walker. — Captain Mont- 
gomery 56 

CHAPTER IX. 

Captain C. A, M iv. — Ldcotbm int Randolph Rtdglev 65 

(ii vrrr.n x. 

Movements of the Army of Occupation from Corpus ("hristi. — All Matters con- 
nected with the Campaign to the time of the Enemy's crossing the Rio Grande. 
— Letter of General Taylor 71 

CHAPTER XI. 
Captain Thornton's Expedition. — Principal Events to the Leaving of General 
Taylor for Point Isabel. — Bombardment of _ Fort Brown 77 

CHAPTER XII. 

Battle of Palo Alto &2 

CHAPTER XIII. 

Battle of Resaca de la Palma $8 

CHAPTER XIV. 
Incident- of Personal Valor. — Libot. Gordon. — Libi r. Black. — Captain Lowd. 
— Names of Officers from New York State . ... 91 



LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 



CHAPTER I. 

Nativity of General Taylor.— Education.— His Youth.— Qualities of Mind, etc.— 
Physical Powers. — Joins the Army. — Promoted. — Heroic Defence of Fort Harri- 
son.— Promoted.— In Florida.— Battle of Okee-cho-bee.— Placed at Head of Army 
in Florida. — Resigns. — Takes Command of Second Department. 

The subject of this sketch has been distinguished in his profes- 
sion as an officer in the United States Army for more than thirty 
years ; but recently circumstances have ushered him most bril- 
liantly, and with overwhelming triumph, before the American people , 
Thirty-four years ago his military talents were put to the test on 
a fearful and trying occasion, when assailed by wild savages in 
numbers twenty times his own, and were found to be of a superior 
order and adequate to the emergency requiring almost superhu- 
man abilities. Again his valor and military genius exhibited them- 
selves in a bold and difficult achievement, executed with a great 
disparity of force and inferior advantages of position, and they 
redounded to his own honor and the glory of his country. But 
what shall be the measure of commendation, the meed of grati- 
tude, or limit of wonder and admiration to be rendered for the glo- 
rious and unparalleled triumphs of our arms on the Rio Grande 
through the guidance of the same master spirit ? 

Zachary Taylor was born in Orange county, Virginia, in 
1790. He is son of Colonel Richard Taylor, who emigrated from 
Virginia about 1792, and settled near Louisville. His father was 
a man of good parts, and held several responsible stations under 
government. Zachary, together with his elder brother, Hancock, 
received the rudiments of his education from a private tutor, named 



S LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 

Elisha Ayres, a native of Connecticut, and a man of exemplary 
habits, sterling moral character, and peculiarly well calculated to 
instruct the juvenile mind, and mould it for future usefulness. He 
n c< ived Zachary under his charge at the age of six years, and at 
thai tune Colonel Richard was collector of the port of Louisville. 
.Mr Ayres is still living, upwards of seventy years of age, and re- 
in his native town of Preston, in the vicinity of Norwich, 
Connecticut. He takes pleasure in recounting anecdotes of Colonel 
Richard and his family, and particularly of Zachary, as he still calls 
him. 

He represents his former pupil to have been a bright scholar, 
--mil an active and inquisitive mind, studious in his habits, 
though of sanguine temperament, apt, yet having depth, and prom- 
most fair for a career of usefulness in the walks of life. He 
had mental qualities of judgment, contcmplativencss, stability, and 
shrewdness not often found in youth, and far above his years. But 
a peculiar trait was firmness, not always attendant on an ardent 
temperament, and which, in such a connection, has been found to 
be an important characteristic in the soldier. Sudden and warm 
impulses produce grand achievements when occasion offers, and 
when properly directed by the concomitants of judgment and firm- 
i' — ; and though bravery may exist in an eminent degree, a phleg- 
matic temperament is calculated to restrain the exercise of it at a 
•.inn when it might lead to glorious results. No one can be an 
: tiring and brilliant soldier without enthusiasm in his love of 
;ountry and patriotism, and to which a predisposition to indolence, 
particularly of mind, is discouraging. Though we arc no eulogist 
of juvenile precocity, we think we perceive in these traits, as rep- 
resi tlted, the budding of a character which has been developed to 
'.he honor of our arms and crcdil of tin 1 republic. 

Anecdotes of the subject of this brief memoir arc related, one of 

which, regarding his physical energies as well as love of excite- 
ment, is his having swum across the Ohio river at Louisville — a 
!i at. though almost incredible, yet well attested to. His life has ever 

been an active one, and in youth he mingled much with the sports 
and amusements of the time, exercised his bodily powers in per- 
forming feats of strength and difficulty, the accomplishment of 



LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 



which would often excite the wonder and applause of friends and 
rivalry of others. It is related that, in his youthful days, he mani- 
fested a great fondness for every thing connected with military, 
and looked forward, with great anxiety, to the day when he should 
become a soldier, or belong, in some capacity, to the army. With 
this view, even before he commenced a course of rigid tactical in- 
struction, he might be seen alone, or with his comrades, practising 
the different evolutions of a company drill with as much gravity 
and emulation as though under orders before an enemy, or going 
through the manual exercise with the sang froid of an accom- 
plished ' fugleman.' 

At the age of eighteen he entered the United States Army, as a 
lieutenant in the seventh regiment of infantry, immediately after 
the British attack upon the frigate Chesapeake, and remained at 
different posts in the west until the commencement, and through 
the war of 1812. He was promoted to the rank of captain previ- 
ous to the breaking out of hostilities, and was engaged in active 
service under Governor Shelby in his native state, or in Indiana, 
against the Indians that were constantly committing depredations 
on our infant settlements, and spreading death and destruction 
through this part of the country. 

In the latter part of 1812, Captain Taylor was invested with the 
command of Fort Harrison, in Indiana, a small, not strongly de- 
fended fort, and situated in the heart of a country inhabited by the 
Miamis, or Weas, and other hostile savages. In September of 
that year a fierce attack was made on the fort by a large body of 
the Prophet's party. The principal defences consisted of an upper 
and lower blockhouse, and a fort with two bastions ; but at this 
time not more than twenty effective men could be mustered in the 
garrison, the rest being sick, convalescent, or disabled, and of 
these, in the crisis that tried the soul of the commander, two of the 
stoutest jumped the pickets and deserted. The details of this san- 
guinary assault and valiant defence are given in a subsequent 
chapter. 

The bravery, skill, and shrewdness displayed by Captain Taylor 
while in command of this post inspired his comrades and his 
country with confidence in his superior abilities as an officer. The 

2 



10 LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 

defence he made, to which we have alluded, under the trying diffi- 
culties of fire, a savage foe, and desertion, was sufficient to estab- 
lish Ins reputation as an officer and soldier of the most sterling 
qualities. Major-general Hopkins, in his dispatch to Governor 
Shelby, says : " The firm and almost unparalleled deferu > of Fort 
Harrison by Captain Z. Taylor has raised for him a fabric oj 
character not to I"- effaced by my eulogy." 

For Captain Taylor's gallantry on this occasion, President Madi- 
son conferred upon him the rank of major by brevet, and this is 
said to he the oldest brevet in the army. 

Not long subsequent to this. Major Taylor went on an expedi- 
tion against the Prophet's town and the Winnebago town, under 
G il Hopkins. These, together with a Kickapoo village on 
Ponse Passu crock, were destroyed. Major Taylor was very 
active in these operations, ami in commending the officers in his 
dispatch, General Hopkins says: " An I also to Captain Z. Tay- 
lor, of the 7th I'nii. St - regiment, for a prompt and efficient 
support in every instance." 

After the close of the war, Major Taylor shifted his position, but 
remained in the west the greater portion of the time for several 
years, removing from post to post as the interest of the service 
called him. Winn the war in Florida broke out, he was called 
thither. In the mean time he had been promoted to the rank ot 
colonel. He was at the head of the first brigade, quartered at 
Fort Gardner, south of the Withlacochee, when lie proceeded 
against the Seminoles and Micasukies, under Alligator and Sam 
Jones, and had the desperate struggle with these forces at Okee- 
cho-bee. The particulars of this battle will also be found in these 
pages. 

Colonel Taylor had received a challenge from the Seminole 
chief, Alligator, to come on, which the colonel accepted instanter* 
The Indians had selected a strong position, in a thick swamp, cov- 
ered in front by a small Btream, whose quicksands rendered it 
almosl impassable. A breastwork, composed of the growth of 
a hummock, thickly interwoven, concealed and partly protected the 
Indians in front, their flanks being secured by impassable swamps. 
Sam Jones and Coa-coo-chcc were behind these barriers with 



LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 11 

Alligator and seven hundred of their tribes, true marksmen, every 
man. 

Colonel Taylor approached them with about five hundred men, 
regulars and Missouri volunteers, under Colonel Gentry. They 
passed the stream, sinking to their middle in mire, mounted the 
breastwork, and fought hand to hand, the Indians disputing every 
inch of ground. After a most sanguinary engagement of three 
hours, the enemy was driven from his post, and Colonel Taylor 
gained a most complete and brilliant victory. 

The loss, however, on both sides was great. The gallant Colo- 
nels Gentry and Thompson, Captain Van Swearingen, and Lieu- 
tenants Carter and Brook, fell at the heads of their command. 
During the whole engagement Colonel Taylor remained on horse- 
back, passing from point to point, cheering his men to the conflict, 
and exposed to the Indian rifle at every moment. 

For this achievement the president conferred on Colonel Taylor 
the brevet rank of brigadier-general. 

General Taylor represented this as " the most trying scene of his 
life ;" but he was destined to encounter one equally hazardous on 

the Rio Grande, and from which he emerged, if possible, with 

•* 
greater honor to his name. 

General Taylor now established himself at Fort Basenger, on 
the Kissimmee. He had now been transferred to the first infantry, 
and it becoming necessary to establish posts about Tampa Bay 
and along the eastern coast, Mr. Poinsett, then Secretary of War, 
recommended to Major-general Jessup that General Taylor be 
placed in command of them. 

In the fore part of 1839 Major-general Jessup was ordered to 
the seat of government to resume the duties of Quartermaster- 
general, and the command of the army in Florida was given to 
General Taylor. In the mean time peace had been proclaimed, 
and the duties of the commander were far from being onerous ; 
lie was relieved in 1840 by Brigadier-general Armistead, after four 
years at least of indefatigable service in the swamps and hummocks 
of that unhealthy country. 

General Taylor was next assigned the command of the second 
department, which was in the year following, and repaired to his 



12 LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 

head-quarters at Fort Gibson, on the Arkansas. On his way, lie 
was offered a public dinner at Little Rock, by the citizens of that 
place, as a token of esteem for his "meritorious services in Flo- 
rida," but declined on account of haste to assume command. The 
lepartment of the army, including the states of Louisiana, 
Mississippi, &c, was next given to his command, and he repaired 
to Fort Jessup, where the order to assume command of the " Arni> 
of Observation" reached him. 



LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 13 



CHAPTER II. 

General Taylor called to Texas.— Object of the Expedition.— The Policy.— General 
Taylor's Position. — Innuendo repelled — General Taylor's grand Plan. — Its consum- 
mation. — General Survey of the Ground. — Critical Extract. 

We have thus briefly hinted at some of the leading events in the 
life of this accomplished and successful general, up to the period 
he was called to the command of our forces about to proceed to 
Texas, a more minute detail of which appears in the regular order 
of the narrative. The object of this expedition, it is well known, 
was to invest that territory lying between the Rio Nueces and the 
Rio Grande or Bravo del Norte, a tract of land claimed to belong to 
Texas, and by the articles of annexation made over to the United 
States. We shall not make it our province to question the policy 
of taking forcible possession of a territory known to be held in dis- 
pute by two free and independent republics ; but nothing is clearer 
than that the commander of the American forces but complied with 
implicit instructions of the Department, which were his guarantee 
and justification. 

We cannot say that neutrality would have been preserved had 
possession not been taken, and it would seem that the acquisition 
of the republic — but in equal part interested in the dispute — by a 
third power did not change the position of affairs, or authorize such 
power to invest the territory. Be this as it may, however, on the 
28th of March, 1846, the United States army took up its quarters 
opposite Matamoras, and planted the United States flag in the an- 
cient department of Tamaulipas. 

The position which General Taylor selected is adjudged to be 
the most favorable. His force, there can be no doubt, was entirely 
inadequate to the position which he assumed ; censure cannot find 
a resting place, however, on the commander-in-chief for this error, 
if so it was. As a fearless and ready soldier, he repaired to the 
place assigned him, with the means furnished to his hands. If 
there was an error in judgment, in the department, it became too 
late to repair it by the commander, if he felt so disposed, when his 



14 LI FK OK GENERAL TAYLOR. 

observation led him to perceive it. It was also i ntir< \ problemati- 
cal, whether the Mexicans would take upon themselves the office 
of ejecting our troops from the soil thus invested ; but, more than 
this, the probabilities were that they would not. These probabili- 
ties amounted to nearly certainly, judging from the unstable state 
of the government of that republic, their civil dissensions, and the 
dispersed and disaffected state of their troops ; and no doubt had 
their influence with the department in determining the amount oi 
force to be sent. 

Still, the assuming a hostile position — for such it is fair to term 
it, since it was not proposed to preserve neutrality simply, and one 
portion of those interested and engaged in the dispute of the soil 
were not only admitted, but took active part in the occupation — 
without the presence of a sufficient force to maintain it in any < on- 
ceivable emergency, seems to us an ovt rsight, to say the least, that 
might have resulted in dishonor to our arms. What then do we 
owe to the commander and those valorous spirits who fought their 
way, hand to hand, against an opposing force double their number, 
through a dilemma of an appalling nature in which they had been 
involved, to a brilliant and triumphant victory ! 

A writer remarks of General Taylor, in allusion to the subject — 
" If he erred in his estimate of the forces which the Mexicans could 
bring to assault the position which government had ordered him to 
take upon the Rio Bravo, and if, owing to that error, he allowed 
the army under his command to be placed in great peril, as well 
as his munitions, provisions, and his line ot intercourse with the 
ultimate resources on which the army was to rely, — if General 
Taylor allowed all these to be placed in greal peril, it at least 
afforded him an opportunity of exercising and exhibiting the highest 
military genius in extricating bimseli from all those difficultii 

The hypothesis conveyed above, as furnishing evidence of a want 
of foresight in the American commander, as well as ground for in- 
nuendo or oblique censure, (we think unmeant,) is entirely imagi- 
nary. General Taylor was well informed as to the amount of 
Mexican force on the frontier when he arrived there, a lame portion 
of which had previously advanced t" meet him headed by General 
Mejia, the commander at Matamoras ; and which force was esti- 



LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 15 

mated at about two thousand soldiers and five hundred rancheros, 
under Mejia, Garcia, La Vega, and Laveriego. Upon arriving at 
Point Isabel, General Taylor set about establishing permanent 
defences for the protection of his stores, proceeded to the site op- 
posite Matamoras, which he designated for the head-quarters of 
the army, and placed nearly two-thirds of his army at once in 
erecting fortifications, and constructing means of defence, not for 
present emergency, but with the view of rendering his position 
impregnable against an anticipated force far more formidable. 
The expedition with which he prosecuted this labor, the permanent 
character of the work, at least the effort used with the facilities to 
give it this character, and the care manifested in the disposition of 
the brigades, speak as to the presentiments of the commanding 
general. 

At length, in twelve days after his reaching this point, the ex- 
pected force arrived. General Arista entered Matamoras with two 
hundred cavalry, leaving an army of from two to three thousand 
behind him, soon to arrive. Was General Taylor alarmed ? There 
is no evidence of it. Did he call for volunteers at that moment ? 
By no means. Could he have " erred" — quoting from the above 
paragraph — "in his estimate of the forces which the Mexicans 
could bring to assault his position ?" It seems he did not. He 
states in his communication of the 15th of April, that Ampudia's 
force, soon expected to Matamoras, was variously estimated at 
from two to three thousand, besides the two hundred cavalry he 
had with him. This estimate, compared with subsequent accounts, 
and the known number of Arista's command — that general having 
assumed the place of Ampudia — at Palo Alto, is found to have 
been nearly correct. 

General Taylor, then, was aware of the force to be brought against 
him, and looked calmly on, because he felt secure in his position. 
The following few lines from his dispatch to the department, sets 
the matter on this point at rest. 

" Notwithstanding the alternative of war presented by Ampudia" — 
this general had, upon his arrival at Matamoras to take command, 
notified the American commander to withdraw within twenty-four 
hours with his forces, and retire beyond the Nueces—" no hostile 



16 LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 

movement has yet been made by his force. Whether he will feel 
strong enough to attempt any thing when all his force shall arrive, 
is very doubtful. Our brigades occupy strong positions, beyond 
reach of the fire from town, and can hold themselves against many 
times their number of Mexican troops. Lithe mean time our de- 
fences here and at Point Isabel are daily gaining strt ngth. The 
latter point is well supplied with artillery, and is in a good condi- 
tion to resist attack." 

No alarm is manifested here, no volunteers are called for or aid 
demanded ; yet this is four days after the arrival of Ampudia, and 
three subsequent to the menacing notice of that general. The 
same dispatch, however, contains the following : " I shall author- 
ize the raising of two companies of Texan mounted men for service 
in this quarter, particularly for the purpose of keeping open our 
communication with Point Isabel, and relieving the regular cavalry 
of a portion of their duties, which are now oppressive." 

We have taken some pains to reply, though briefly, to the con- 
structive imputation conveyed in the paragraph we have quoted, 
which represents General Taylor as having " allowed the army 
under his command to be placed in great peril," the more as that 
article appears as original in the most valuable register in this 
country. Now take a broad glance of all matters connected with 
the management of the " Army of Occupation," the present i 
nation, and sec whether a perfect system for maintaining the honor 
of our arms is not manifest, the operations of which have led to the 
happiest and most glorious results. The commanding general 
finds himself at Corpus Christi with two regiments of infantry and 
the second dragoons ; and on the border of the enemy's country . 
with a force that (.annul be immediately increased. He hears of 
an opposing force, certainly much larger than his own, meditating 
an attack. He surveys his mound, his resources, his position with 
i to his stores, and the general alternative to which he is 
driven. Two points must be defended. The probably first move- 
ment of the enemy will be to intercept the communication between 
his depot of stores and camp, and the capture of the first-named. 
His works opposite Matamoraa are completed, and so constructed 
that five hundred men will maintain them against the direction of 



LIFE OP GENERAL TAYLOR. 17 

even the whole of the opposing force. He can withdraw with the 
balance of his army, about two thousand two hundred men, repair 
to Point Isabel, and maintain that post against an attack, or return 
with munitions and supplies, which were greatly needed in camp. 
A portion of the enemy's force must necessarily be employed in 
reducing Fort Brown, while the balance might be attacked by 
General Taylor in person, if concentrated at Point Isabel, or inter- 
posed between the two points. 

He sets out according to his plan, leaving Major Brown with five 
or six hundred men to defend the works. He meets with no oppo- 
sition on the route. As predicted, the bombardment of the fort 
commenced upon its being ascertained by the enemy that the prin- 
cipal part of the American force had left. General Taylor arrives 
at Point Isabel, where he remains until satisfied that no attack on 
that post is meditated, learning, in the mean time, that all is safe 
at Fort Brown, then commences his return with his munitions and 
stores. He meets the enemy in large numbers, fairly engages 
with them, comes out victorious in two sanguinary battles, drives 
him from the soil across the Rio Grande, and his army receives 
their supplies, and the intercourse with the depot is amply secured. 

Who can imagine a more beautiful working of a grand system, 
a magnificent plan ? — more glorious results, even with superior ad- 
vantages, much less in an emergency ? Here was displayed the 
highest military genius, and the hero of Palo Alto and Reseca de 
la Palma has conferred on his country an obligation that time 
should scarcely efface. " So far as we have been able to distin- 
guish and have capacity to judge," says a writer, speaking of these 
events, and whose views vary slightly from our own, " no officer, 
placed under the circumstances in which he found himself, could 
have acted with more coolness, prudence, or courage than General 
Taylor displayed upon this occasion. Not so fastidious of his own 
reputation as to endanger the safety and comfort of his command 
for one moment unnecessarily by concealing the danger to which 
he found them exposed, or rashly to risk the issue of a now very 
doubtful contest to those forces which had heretofore been consid- 
ered ample for the occasion, he very prudently summoned the 
neighboring states to his assistance, apprizing fully of the necessity 

3 



18 LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 

of prompt movement, and yet, while wisely providing for contin- 
gencies, his own measures were taken as though no dependence 
was to be placed upon such assistance arriving in time, as in fact 
il did not, to save him from having so large odds to contend with. 

If there be one plume which General Taylor has won in this affair 
which is entitled to more commendation than all others, it was this 
proof of the highest qualifications for a commander, to which we 
have just alluded. 

" It is gratifying, however, to him and his countrymen that his 
own resources were found sufficient for the occasion. To him it 
must be gratifying, because, if honors were to be won, 'the Army 
of Occupation,' men and officers, were fairly entitled to the honor 
of winning and wearing them ; and it is truly gratifying to his 
countrymen to observe and acknowledge how gallantly they have 
won. and how gracefully they wear those honors." 



LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 19 



CHAPTER III. 



General Taylor continued. — Critical examination of the Battles of the 8th and 9th 

May. The Light Artillery Arm. — Investigation of the Causes of these Victories. — 

Demonstrations of Approbation.— President confers a Brevet.— Resolutions and 
Sword of Louisiana and Tennessee.— Thanks of Congress.— General Taylor's 
Talents as a Military Man and General.— Qualities of Heart.— Personal Ap- 
pearance.— Rough and Ready.— His Dress.— Characteristic Anecdote.— Political 
Opinions. — Habits, etc. 

The details of the battles on the Rio Grande will be found in 
another place, and we had intended the reader of this edition should 
be left to analyze them, and form his own opinion as to the magni- 
tude of the victories. But finding a critical examination at hand, 
and so exactly suited to our mind, we cannot refrain from giving it 
almost entire in these pages; the more especially as from its appear- 
ing originally in the Courier and Enquirer newspaper, we should 
presume it penned by Colonel Webb himself, which places its au- 
thority and value beyond question. It assumes the stand that these 
victories are unparalleled, and that record furnishes no instances of 
such glorious achievements under similar circumstances. We have 
never seen the critical examination to which the writer alludes. 

The writer of this paper, after quoting the concluding portions 
of General Taylor's reports of the two battles, wherein the general 
states the amount of his own and the enemy's force and loss in 
killed and wounded, says : 

" We have made the above extracts, with a view of examining 
somewhat more critically, the gallant affairs of the 8th and 9th of 
May, to demonstrate the leading cause of those extraordinary victo- 
ries, and to sustain the position we assumed immediately after the 
receipt of the intelligence of these battles, that they were the most 
gallant affairs on record, and that in modern times, never had such 
victories been obtained by any army opposed to such fearful odds — 
both armies consisting of disciplined troops ! We did not put forth 
this declaration without reflection ; it has frequently been the sub 
ject of discussion ; it has drawn forth criticism and a critical exam 



20 LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 

ination ; and we still contend that it is not onl] ■ accurate, 

but that even those most disposed to underrate the services of our 
little army, cannot gainsay it. 

" General Taylor, in his peculiarly modest manner, says — 'It is 
probable six thousand men were opposed to us, [1700,] and in a 
position selected by themselves, and strongly defended with artil- 
lery.' The whole tenor of the general's dispatches, proves an 
anxious desire not to overrate the numbers opposed to him or the 
character of his victories ; and the concurrent testimony of the 
officers of both armies, leaves no question that on the 9th of May, 
the enemy had actually engaged, upwards of seven thousand troops, 
or more than four times the number opposed to them ; and it is 
equally certain, that their loss greatly exceeded in killed, wounded, 
and missing, one thousand. General Taylor accounts for four 
hundred buried by our troops in the two actions ; and Colonel 
Twites, in a letter now before us, says, ' we find in the hospitals 
at Matamoras three hundred and eighty-two wounded soldiers and 
several officers, and very many wounded accompanied the retreat- 
ing army.' This, it must be borne in mind, was on the 18th of 
May — nine days after the battle ; and an officer writes that the 
number buried at Matamoras between the 9th and l v t!i must have 
been several hundred. Our conviction is, that in the two engage- 
ments the enemy's loss was nearer h << than on thousand ; and this 
fact is very material, as demonstrating the character of the Mi 
troops, and proving that an army seldom fought better. They did 
not retreat on the night of the 8th, ma- even on the 9th, until at 
least one-seventh of their whole army had been either killed or 
wounded ; or, in Other words, until our army hail rendered hors du 
combed a number exceeding one-half of OUT whole army. 

" These facts prove that the Mexicans foughl bravely. It is ad- 
mitted en all hands, that they were admirably disciplined, the (lower 
of the Mexican army — and composed of officers raid men who had 
been engaged in battle after battle, and had nobly earned for them- 

- the title of n tferans. This army, commanded, as has 
said, by one of the most gallant and accomplished artillery officers 
of the age, (Arista,) selected its position, and arranged at leisure its 
Inn- of defence, composed I t three batterii - of artillery supported 



LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 21 

by five thousand infantry and two thousand cavalry — whose boast 
is, that they are the best cavalry in the world ; and that they are 
brave, daring, and the best horsemen on the continent, is fully ad- 
mitted. Thus posted, this army is assailed by the American army 
only one-fourth as strong. General Taylor reports that its artillery, 
with the exception of Ringgold's and Duncan's eight pieces of light 
artillery, was parked with his immense baggage train and provi- 
sions a great distance in the rear, and was only employed in pur- 
suing the enemy after he had been completely routed. Thus then, 
the naked fact is presented to the consideration of the country, that 
our army attacked the Mexicans ' strongly posted in a position 
selected by themselves.' The forces thus posted and assailed, 
were composed of veterans, disciplined troops, four times as numer- 
ous as their assailants, with a heavier train of artillery, and nearly 
five times as many cavalry ! They fought bravely for three hours ; 
lost one-seventh of their whole number ; and then were literally dis- 
persed by the bayonets of our troops — throwing their muskets at 
our men in the spirit of desperation, and swearing that they were 
devils incarnate ! 

" Such was the battle of Resaca de la Palma, and such, too, was 
that of Palo Alto on the day preceding it. To judge of this achieve- 
ment and compare it with European battles, we need only ask our- 
selves, on what occasion have eighty thousand disciplined troops 
strongly posted, in position selected by themselves, been driven 
from that position, routed and cut to pieces, by twenty thousand ? 
When and where, did any army thus conquer, rout and completely 
disperse, four times its number of brave and disciplined troops, 
who fought in a manner which, under ordinary circumstances, enti- 
tled them to victory ? When such affairs can be found in modern 
history, we will yield to them the palm. But we know that there 
are no such battles on record ; and we desire to impress upon our 
countrymen, that our little army under General Taylor has achieved 
for itself a reputation, such as no other army has ever won in mod- 
ern times, and the scene of which will hereafter be referred to as 
another Thermopylae." 

The writer goes on further to state the causes which produced 
these victories, and the position which he has taken seems to be 



22 LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 

fully sustained. For our own part, we feel inclined to add our 
opinion that to one particular arm of the Bervice may be attributed 
a large share of the execution that crowned the result of those me- 
morable days with success. The splendid corps of light artillery, 
directed by their fearless and disciplinarian coins: dealt death 

among the ranks of the enemy with a double hand. Their expe- 
ditious advances, their strategic manoeuvres, their unlimbering with 
the speed of lightning, and the deadly aim of their ordnance, spread 
confusion, terror, and destruction through dense columns to which 
their operations were directed. There was no evasion of this ter- 
rible arm except in flight ; no approach to its batteries but with 
immense loss. 

The writer goes on : — 

"Now a few words as to the causes which produced these two 
victories. We said on the 12th of Mav, when apprehensions were 
very general for the fate of our army, we felt very certain, that be- 
fore that day, General Taylor had met and dispersed the entire 
force of the enemy, if it was not more than four times as gr 
his own ! We said that this opinion was based upon a knowledge. 
that no disciplined troops ever yet abandoned their officers ; that 
we knew our old comrades well, knew of what material they were 
composed — what West Point had made them — and thai they would 
never yield or retreat. We knew that every officer in that little 
army, was prepared for victory or death ; and that such beii 
case, and knowing their men were disciplined and would certainly 
stand by them, we felt that victory was inevitable, unless the op- 
posing force was so great as to forbid ility ; in which cas • 
our whole army would be cul to piect s — selling their lives dearly, 
but never yieldin . Lnd such, too, would have been their conduct, 
and such the result of this affair, if the opposing i 
English instead ol M< lican. 

"To this gallantry and determination on the part of our officers, 
we arc indebted for the glorious achievements of the 8th and 9th 
of May; and an examination into the killed and wounded, very 
certainly demonstrates this fact. W hen in order of battle, the offi 
ccrs arc always posted with a view to their greater security, as they 
are required to conduct the battle. Thus the company officers are 



LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 23 

immediately in the rear of their men in line of battle, and the field 
and staff, still further in the rear ; and it is admitted to be a sound 
calculation, that when the proportion of officers to the rank and file 
is as one to twenty, the proportion of killed and wounded should 
be one officer to every forty of the rank and file, owing to the 
greater security of their position, intended to preserve their lives. 
Now let us apply this calculation to the battle of Resaca de la Palma. 

" In that ever memorable affair, the proportion of officers to the 
rank and file, was as one to thirteen ; and therefore, according to 
European calculation, the proportion of killed and wounded, should 
have been one to twenty-six. Now what are the facts ? The total 
of killed and wounded is one hundred and twenty-two, of whom 
fifteen were commissioned officers, or one out of every eight ! 

" Here, in a few words, the country has the means of determin- 
ing how it was that seventeen hundred American troops drove 
from their selected position, defeated and utterly routed, four times 
their number of disciplined Mexican cavalry, artillery, and infan- 
try ! — Here is the true cause of the victories of the 8th and 9th of 
May, being the most wonderful in the history of modern warfare. 
Our officers fought in front of their men. They literally led them 
to the cannon's mouth ; and as the history of these battles proves, 
when their swords were useless, threw them away, picked up the 
muskets and accoutrements of those who had fallen, and with these, 
set their men an example of coolness and daring which made every 
private in the little army feel himself a hero. When officers thus 
lead their men up to the very mouths of the enemy's cannon ; when 
sword in hand, or with the bayonet, they drive the enemy from 
their guns, and then themselves perform the work of gunners ; 
when for hours, as was the case in our flying artillery, the officers 
helped work the guns, and in some cases did the duty of three pri- 
vates — victory is certain — inevitable. Such was the character of 
the battles of the 8th and 9th of May — such the manner in which 
they were won — and such the conduct of our officers. Under such 
circumstances, our whole army might have been destroyed ; but if 
not, then was victory absolutely certain. We care not how exalted 
the character of the troops opposed to them, or to what nation they 
belonged, in this, their first fight after years of peace and the taunts 



24 LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLuR. 

of members of Congress, it was morally and physically impossible 
in rr.-i>t them. Honor — unfading and perpetual honor — to General 
Taylor, the gallant officers who so nobly sustained him, and to the 
army of heroes they led to victory on the 8th and 9th of May, 1846 ; 
and most fortunate for them and for the country was it, that we 
had no undisciplined volunteers or militia in those battles. We 
doubt not their courage ; but no undisciplined troops could have 
fought those fights. It would have been morally impossible for 
any such to have withstood the fire of the enemy on those days and 
do what was required of our soldiers and officers ; and had there- 
been any faltering — had a single battalion given way, as they most 
assuredly would — the enemy would have been encouraged to per- 
severe, and our whole army might have been annihilated and cut 
to pieces. Never was the value of disciplined men more triumph- 
antly demonstrated than on these glorious occasions ; and since we 
have learned that General Taylor compels the volunteers with him 
to receive six hours' drilling per day, and relieves them from all 
other duties to make soldiers of them, we venture to predict that 
they too, when they meet the enemy, will add to the reputation of 
our arms. ' Rough and Ready' will first make them soldiers, and 
then win victories with them." 

The London Herald remarks : " The proceedings of the soldiers 
under General Taylor have been such as to do honor to the Re- 
public. The little army amounting to but a handful of men, at a 
distance of thousands of miles from any available succor, has de- 
fended itself against BUperior numbers, and at length has crossed 
the Rio Grande, and took possession of Matamoras, almost insight 
of an opposing enemy — an exploit which Napoleon has pronounced 
to be the perfection of generalship" 

There seems to In.: some discrepancy in the estimates of the 
enemy's force, which is nol satisfied by the accounts given by the 
enemy himself. The number of his force is generally set down at 
s\ thousand or thereabouts. 

We shall now proceed \o notice some of the demonstrations of 
his countrymen towards General Taylor for his achievements on 
the Rio Grande, his character as a man and a soldier, his talents, 
politics, personal appearance, etc. 



LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 25 

Upon the receipt of the communication of General Taylor, giving 
a report of the engagements on the Bravo del Norte on the 8th and 
9th of May, the President, in a letter from his own hand to General 
Taylor, commends the gallantry of those concerned, and transmits 
a brevet of Major-General to the commander himself, which com- 
pliment and appointment were sanctioned by the senate. 

The legislature of Louisiana, then in session, promptly, and by 
acclamation, adopted a set of resolutions expressing thanks to Gen- 
eral Taylor and the officers under his command for the gallantry 
displayed by them on those occasions ; and also passed an act in- 
stanter appropriating a sword to the commanding general, and ap- 
pointed a committee of their own body to repair to the seat of war 
and present them to the hero, an honor never before conferred on 
an American general, that we are aware. The legislature of Ten- 
nessee did the same. Mr. Zacharie, chairman of the committee, 
in presenting the resolutions and thanks of the legislature of 
Louisiana, said : " My own heart and the heart of every Louisia- 
nian, approves of the beautiful sentiments of these resolutions. In 
behalf of the state of Louisiana, I thank you and your brave army 
for the additional lustre which these glorious victories have shed 
upon American arms." 

General Taylor, after paying a high compliment to Louisiana 
and to the chivalry of her sons, concludes thus : 

" The generous and timely action of the legislature of Louisiana 
will never be forgotten by us ; its name will be embalmed in our 
hearts as a cherished memorial. We feel that we have only done 
our duty ; yet we cannot but feel highly gratified to have gained 
the approbation of our fellow-citizens. Together with the love of 
our country, which is common to us all, it is that approbation which 
cheers and animates the soldier in the hour of battle. I therefore, 
in the name of my officers and men, thank you and the patriotic 
state which you represent for the honor conferred on us." 

Congress also, by a unanimous vote, returned thanks to the army 
for its gallant achievements on the Rio Grande, and the country, 
through all its avenues of expression, burst forth in one spontaneous 
demonstration of approbation and praise. 

The admiration for the hero of these battles was so strong and so 

4 



00 LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 

deep, that not only politicians, but the people id various parts of 
our union directed their eves towards him at once as a man suita- 
ble to be chosen to the Presidency at the next election, in 1848; 
and with this view, meetings were called, some of which put him 
in nomination for that high office, and others making an expression 
in his favor that cannot be mistaken. 

At Trenton, New Jersey, a meeting was called and resolutions 
passed. A popular speaker referred to the qualifications of Gen- 
i ral Taylor, as a general and a statesman, and his title to the grati- 
tude and affection of the American people, above any other man ; 
to his promptness and energy, as evidenced in his dispatches, and 
his whole conduct as a devoted patriot and a brave soldier. 

A meeting was also held in New York city, which complimented 
him highly on his military genius, and his achievements on the 
Rio < rrande. 

General Taylor possesses a high order of talents — a brilliant 
intellect, and wields a pen as he dors Ins sword, to the honor 
of his nation. His letters are admirable specimens of composi- 
tion, lucid and eloquent "The unassuming yel - - -- 
cool man of superior judgment, may be easily distinguished in his 
-A His modesty in detailing the events of his battles 
amounts nearly to a fault, and he is entirely tree of thai hyper- 
bole, which we acknowledge is too often characteristic of military 
;ommanders. His Ian- 1 haste, his words well chosen, and 
the general tone of his communications evinces a mind well culti- 
vated and informed, and an education unni 

The London Times, the mosl powerful newspaper, as well as the 
rabid in its prejudices against America and every thing Am. ri 
can, of any in Great Britain, speaks thus of Gen.Tay tor's dispal 

" Tin' dispatches of ( reneral Taylor an' remarkable for their suc- 
cinct energy, and the absence oi rbose and grandili 
-trains which we are aeon-' meet with in narratives oi 
American exploits. Hewril i man of s< rise, skill, and cour- 
and we have not the Blightest wish to detract from the honors 

I i has gallantly earned under the flag of his country." 
The same pal havioi oi General Taylor and his 

ips : 



LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 27 

" Whatever opinion we may entertain of the causes of this war, 
and the political motives in which it originated, the behavior of the 
American general and his troops deserves to be judged of by a 
much higher standard than the policy of the government which it 
is their duty to serve." 

His qualities of heart are such as do honor to mankind, and 
admirably fit him for the high station he holds, by elevating him in 
the affections of his comrades. Frank, affable, generous, feeling 
for the misfortunes or sufferings of his command, and making the 
alleviation of their distresses his first duty after conquering the foe, 
he is looked upon and regarded as a friend by his people, who 
would follow him to the very muzzle of an enemy's guns. 

As a general he is one of the best disciplinarians our army can 
boast. He is an experienced and tried soldier, elevated from one 
grade to another, almost in every instance for " meritorious ser- 
vices," and not by the adventitious aid of friends, or distinction of 
birth, to the rank of major-general. In his operations on the 
battle-field, he is wise, shrewd, and cautious ; deep, though clear- 
headed, in his plans, and when he strikes he strikes hard. A man 
of fearless courage, he takes the most active part in his engage- 
ments, and never urges his men where he would not go himself, 
'• Boys," said he, coolly riding into the hollow square into which 
the infantry was thrown during the battle of Resaca de la Palma, 
in order to receive the charge of the Mexican cavalry, " Boys, I 
will place myself in your square" and there witnessed the assault 
and repulse as if the regiment was merely manoeuvring on parade. 

He is a man of an iron constitution, and during his campaign in 
Florida acquired the appellation of "Rough and Ready," by which 
he is now sometimes designated. In person he is about five feet 
eight inches in height, square and broad across his shoulders, mus- 
cular in his frame, full chest, and somewhat inclined to stockiness. 
His face is full and round, with high cheek bones, browned much 
by the tropical suns. His eyes are of a sloe blackness, quick and 
piercing ; and his hair and brows thick and heavy, and also jetty 
black. 

He is perfectly republican in his habits, associations, and dress, 
but gentlemanly in his demeanor, and understands well what be- 



28 LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 

to his rank while on duty. He has that industrious turn, 
thai spirit of activity and restlessness, which leads him to neglect 
or overlook his apparel, and were he not in his uniform, it would 
be a difficult matter at times to recognise him as a commanding 
general. 

A gentleman, now in this vicinity, and formerly an officer in the 
army, and attached to Col. Taylor's regiment, and therefore per- 
fectly well acquainted with him, had occasion to stop at Fort Jesup 
in Louisiana, some years ago, while Col. T. was stationed at that 
post. Col. T. was absent when he arrived, at a court-martial one 
hundred miles distant, on the Arkansas. Mr. K. was walking out 
one morning in the direction of Red River, which runs not far dis- 
tant from Fort Jesup, and on descending a slight declivity, he saw 
ahead of him a good sized, very dark man, jogging along on a dimin- 
utive jackass. The man was dressed in a very coarse black bom- 
bazine frock-coat, drab breeches, with the bottoms put under the 
long tops of his boots, black cravat tied loosely about his neck, on 
his head a coarse straw-hat, whose broad rim flapped up and down 
over his face as the motion of the animal stirred it, disclosing ever 
and anon a pair of lustrous black eyes, and his hair streaming in 
the breeze. The sides of the jackass were gored deeply by the 
action of the huge Spanish spurs, which the rider had upon his 
heels, and both rider and animal were covered with mud and dust, 
and withal looked much jaded. The rider was Colonei Taylor. 
He had rode across the country one hundred miles with the utmost 
speed to join his post. Our informant passed the "time of day'' 
with him, bill did not recognise him ; and on his return to post 
they bundled. heartily over the circumstance. 

Though possessing perhaps more vigor of mind, as a soldier and 
civilian General Taylor has much that cast possessed by the la- 
mented General Harrison. 

General Taylor, though arrived at high station, still possesses his 
republican simplicity and homeliness in camp, living, and attire. 
V writer from BrazoB do Santiago, Bpeaking of a visit to the Gen- 
eral's camp, says : ''lb' u.is introduced to a very plain, shabbily 
dressed old gentleman, of rather small stature, about sixty years 
"I age; and who looked, by his hardy appearance, as if he had 



LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 29 

been encamping out all his life. This was the commander-in-chief 
of the army of occupation. He has been thirty-eight years in 
service on the frontiers of our country. One of his officers re- 
marked, that ' old as he is, he bears the fatigues and privations of 
the campaign better than any one under him.' He was affable, 
dignified, and in excellent spirits. His tent was no larger and no 
better than those of the other officers, and his table was his camp- 
chest, in which he carried his cooking utensils, &c. His plates 
were tin pans, and his cups tin pannikins. A small supply of 
brown sugar was kept in a cannister, and not a piece of crockery 
was to be seen. A party of six was thus entertained in homely 
style, and they all seemed to enjoy it abundantly." 

The above sketch is no doubt over-wrought, and contains one or 
two errors, particularly with regard to his stature and his dress. 
His dress is always plain, especially when in the field and in active 
service, but never shabby. His simplicity of habit is, however, 
proverbial, and is no discredit to his good sense. 

General Taylor, in politics, is a Whig, and was strongly opposed 
to the annexation of Texas. In conversation he is perfectly free 
and unreserved with his companions in arms, to the lowest grade 
of rank. His officers have no delicacy in riding up to his camp, at 
any time, and hailing him in the most familiar but respectful man- 
ner. They are always sure of a hearty welcome, and an invitation 
to alight and partake of his hospitalities. It has been said that he 
is habitually taciturn on the subject of his plans. This is a mis- 
take. He converses openly with his officers on all occasions in 
regard to his plan of operations, and consults them often on impor- 
tant movements. 

He is temperate in his habits, but can join a friend in a glass 
of wine with a rational gusto. He is industrious and assiduous in 
his vocation and duties, always attending to business before pleas- 
ure. He pays no regard to the pomp of war, and does not even 
avail himself of a marquee, which his rank entitles him to ; and 
while at Corpus Christi had no guard about his tent. He seldom 
appeared in uniform except in review, but wore a plain blue frock? 
jean pantaloons, and black cravat tied loosely about his neck. 



30 LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 



CHAPTER IV. 

Captain Taylor in 1812. — His gallant defence of Fort Harrison. — Hie attempt to 
send dispatches to Governor Harrison. — Colonel Russel with his rang) 

In the fall of 1S12, Captain Taylor had command of Fort Har- 
rison. On the 3d of September a furious attack was made on this 
post by a large body of Indians, in the night-time, but the design 
of the savages was completely baffled by a handful of men under 
Captain T., through >urage and prudence. This attack and 

repulse is thus described by Captain Taylor himself in a letter to 
Governor Harrison. 

" On Thursday evening, the 3d instant, after retreat beating, 
four guns were heard to lire in the direction where two young men 
(citizens who resided here) were making hay, about lour hundred 
yards distant from the fort. I was immediately impressed with the 
idea that they were killed by the Indians, as the Miamis or V. as 
had that day informed me that the Prophet's party would soon be here 
for the purpose of commencing hostilities ; and that they had been 
directed to leave this place, which we were about to du. I did not 
think it prudent to send out at that late hour of the night to see 
what had become of them ; and their not coming in convinced me 
thai I was right in my'conjecture. I waited until eight o'clock 
next morning, when I sent out a corporal with a small parly to find 
them, if il could be done without running too much risk oi being 
drawn into an ambuscade. He soon sent back to inform me that 
he had found them both killed, and wished to know my further or- 
ders ; I sent the carl and oxen, had them brought in and buried; 
they had been Bho1 with two balls, scalped, and cut in a most 
shocking manner. Late in the evening ol the 4th instant, old Jo- 
seph Lenai and between thirty and forty Indians arrived from the 
Prophet's town with a white flag; among whom were about ten 
women, and the men wen con I chiefs of the different 

tribes that compose the Prophet's party. A Shawanee man that 
good English, informed me that old Lenar intended to speak 



LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 31 

to me next morning and try and get something to eat. At retreat 
beating I examined the men's arms and found them all in good or- 
der, and completed their cartridges to sixteen rounds per man. As 
I had not been able to mount a guard of more than six privates and 
two non-commissioned officers for some time past, and sometimes 
part of them every other day, from the unhealthiness of the com- 
pany ; I had not conceived my force adequate to the defence of 
this post, should it be vigorously attacked, for some time past. 

" As I had just recovered from a very severe attack of fever, I was 
not able to be up much through the night. After tattoo, I cautioned 
the guard to be vigilant, and ordered one of the non-commissioned 
officers, as the sentinels could not see every part of the garrison, to 
walk round on the inner side during the whole night, to prevent the 
Indians taking any advantage of us, providing they had any inten- 
tion of attacking us. About eleven o'clock I was awakened by 
the firing of one of the sentinels. I sprang up, ran out, and or- 
dered the men to their posts ; when my orderly-sergeant (who had 
charge of the upper block-house) called out that the Indians had 
fired the lower block-house, (which contained the property of the 
contractor, which was deposited in the lower part, the upper having 
been assigned to a corporal and two privates as an alarm-post.) 
The guns had begun to fire pretty smartly from both sides. I di- 
rected the buckets to be got ready, and water brought from the 
well, and the fire extinguished immediately, as it was perceivable 
at that time ; but from debility or other cause the men were very 
slow in executing my orders. The word ' fire' appeared to throw 
the whole of them into confusion ; and by the time they had got 
the water, and broken open the door, the fire had unfortunately 
communicated to a quantity of whiskey, (the stock having licked 
several holes through the lower part of the buildings, after the salt 
that was stored there, through which they had introduced the 
fire without being discovered, as the night was very dark,) and in 
spite of every exertion we could make use of, in less than a mo- 
ment it ascended to the roof and baffled every effort we could make 
to extinguish it. As that block-house adjoined the barracks that 
make part of the fortifications, most of the men immediately gave 
themselves up for lost, and I had the greatest difficulty in getting 



32 LIFE OF GENERAL TV. 

my orders executed ; and, sir, what from the caging of the fire — 
the yelling and howling of several hundred Indians — the cries of 
nine women and children, (a part soldiers' and a part citizens' 
wives, who had taken shelter in the fort,) and the desponding ol 
so many of the men, which was worse than all — I can assure you 
that my feelings were very unpleasant ; and indeed there were not 
more than ten or fifteen men able to do a great deal, the others 
being either sick or convalescent — and to add to our other misfor- 
tunes two of the stoutest men in the fort, and that I had even- 
confidence in, jumped the picket and left us. But my presence 
of mind did not for a moment forsake mc. I saw that by throwing 
pari of the roof that joined the block-house that was on fire, and 
keeping the end perfectly wet, the whole row of buildings might 
. ed, and leave only an entrance of eighteen or twenty feet for 
the Indians to enter after the house was consumed ; and that a 
temporary breastwork might be erected to prevent their even en- 
tering there. I convinced the men that this could be accomplished, 
audit appeared to inspire them with new life, and never did men 
act with more firmness or desperation. Those that were able 
(while the others kept up a constant fire from the other block- 
house and the two bastions) mounted the roofs of the houses with 
Dr. Clark at their head, (who acted with the greatest firmness and 
presence of mind the whole time the attack lasted, which was 
seven hours,) under a shower of bullets, and in less than a mo- 
ment threw off as much of the roof as was nec< ssary. This was 
done only with the loss of one man and two wounded, and I am 
in hope neither of them dangerous. The man that was killed was 
a little deranged, and did not get off the house as soon as directed, 
or he would not have been hurt; and although the barracks were 
31 reral nines in a blaze, and an immense quantity oi lire againsl 
them, the men used such exertion that they kept it under, and be- 
fore day raised a temporary breastwork as high as a man's head 
although the Indians continued to pour in a heavy fire of ball and 
an innumerable quantity of arrows during the whole time the at- 
tack lasted, in every part of the parade. I had but one other man 
killed, nor any other wounded inside the fort, and he lost his lite 
by being too anxious. He got into one of the gallics in the bas- 



DEFENCE OF FORT HARRISON. 33 

tions, and fired over the pickets, and called out to his comrades 
that he had killed an Indian, and neglecting to stoop down, in an 
instant he was shot dead. One of the men that jumped the pickets 
returned an hour before day, and running up towards the gate beg- 
ged for God's sake for it to be opened. I suspected it to be a strat- 
agem of the Indians to get in, as I did not recollect the voice. I 
directed the men in the bastion where I happened to be to shoot 
him, let him be who he would, and one of them fired at him, but 
fortunately he ran up to the other bastion, where they knew his 
voice, and Dr. Clark directed him to lie down close to the pickets, 
behind an empty barrel that happened to be there, and at daylight 
I had him let in. His arm was broke in a shocking manner ; 
which he says was done by the Indians, which I suppose was the 
cause of his returning. I think it probable that he will not recover. 
The other they caught about one hundred and thirty yards from the 
garrison, and cut him all to pieces. 

" After keeping up a constant fire until about six o'clock the 
next morning, which we began to return with some effect after 
daylight, they removed out of reach of our guns. A party of them 
drove up the horses that belonged to the citizens here, and as they 
could not catch them readily, shot the whole of them in our sight, 
as well as a number of their hogs. They drove off the whole of 
the cattle, which amounted to sixty-five head, as well as the public 
oxen. I had the vacancy filled up before night (which was made 
by the burning of the block-house) with a strong row of pickets, 
which I got by pulling down the guard-house. We lost the whole 
of our provisions, but must make out to live upon green corn until 
w r e can get a supply, which I am in hopes will not be long. I be- 
lieve the whole of the Miamies or Weas were among the Prophet's 
party, as one chief gave his orders in that language, which resem- 
bled Stone Eater's voice, and I believe Negro Legs was there like- 
wise. A Frenchman here understands their different languages ; 
and several of the Miamies and Weas, that have been frequently 
here, were recognised by the Frenchman and soldiers the next 
morning. The Indians suffered smartly, but were so numerous as 
to take off all that were shot. They continued with us until the 
next morning, but made no other attempt on the fort, nor have we 

5 



34 LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 

seen any thing more of them since. I have delayed informing you 
of my situation as I did not like to weaken the garrison, and I 
looked for some person from Vincennes, and none of my men were 
acquainted with the woods, and therefore I would either have to 
take the road or the river, which I was fearful was guarded by 
small parties of Indians that would not dare attack a company of 
rangers that was on a scout ; but being disappointed, J have at 
length determined to send a couple of my men by water, and am 
in hopes they will arrive safe. I think it would be best to send the 
provisions under a pretty strong escort, as the Indians may attempt 
to prevent their coming. If you carry on an expedition against 
the Prophet this fall, you ought to be well provided with every 
thing, as you may calculate on having every inch of ground dis- 
puted between this and there that they can defend with advantage. 

" Wishing, &C. 

" Z. Taylor/' 

Failing in this attempt to forward his dispatches, Captain Taylor 
writes Governor Harrison as follows, three days afterwards : — 

" Fort Harrison, Sept. 13, 1812. 
" Dear Sir,— I wrote you on the 10th instant, giving you an ac- 
count of an attack on this place, as well as my situation, which ac- 
count I attempted to send by water, but the two men whom J dis- 
patched in a canoe after night, found the river so well guarded that 
they were obliged to return. The Indians had built a lire on the 
bank of the river, a short distance below the garrison, which gave 
them an opportunity of seeing any craft that mighl attempt to pass, 
and were waiting with a canoe ready to intercept it. I expect the 
fort, as well as the road to Vincennes, is as well or better watched 
than the river. Bu1 my situation compels mo to make one other at- 
tempt by land, and my orderly Bergeant and one other man sets out 
to-night with strict orders to avoid the road in the day-time, and 
depend entirely on the woods, although neither of them have ever 
been in Vincennes by land, nor do they know any thing of the 
country, but 1 am in hopes the} will reach you in safety. I send 
them with great reluctance from their ignorance of the woods. I 



LIFE OP GENERAL TAYLOR. 35 

think it very probable there is a large party of Indians waylaying 
the road between this and Vincennes, likely about the Narrows, for 
the purpose of intercepting any party that may be coming to this 
place, as the cattle they got here will supply them plentifully with 
provisions for some time to come. 

" Please, &c. 

" Z. Taylor 

" His Excellency, Governor Harrison." 

At the time of writing this letter Colonel Russel was within 
fifteen miles of Fort Harrison with a reinforcement of six hundred 
mounted rangers and five hundred infantry, though his approach 
was unknown to Captain Taylor, and arrived to his relief on the 
16th. 



36 LIFE OF OENEItAL TAYLOR. 



CHAPTER V. 

General Taylor's Expedition to the Prophet's Town. — Promotion to Major. — Repair* 
to Florida. — Battle of Okee-cho-b 

On the 11 th November, the army under Major-general Hopkins 
left Fort Harrison on an expedition to the Prophet's town, which 
they reached on the 19th; three hundred men were detached to 
surprise the Winnebago town, lying on Ponse Passu creek, one 
mile from the Wabash and four below the Prophet's. This party, 
commanded by General Butler, surrounded the place, but found it 
evacuated. On the three following days they were embarked in 
the destruction of the Prophet's town, a village of about forty cabins 
and huts, and the large Kick-a-poo village below it, on the other 
side of the river, consisting of one hundred and sixty cabins ; de- 
stroying the corn, reconnoitring the adjacent country, and con- 
structing works of defence. We cannot particularize the event- 
of this expedition, but suffice to say it proved highly successful, 
and Captain Taylor took a most active part in the business of the 
campaign. Major-general Hopkins, in his dispatch to Governor 
Shelby, in rendering his acknowledgments to the officers under his 
command, says, "as also to Captain Z. Taylor, of the 7th United 
States regiment, for a prompt and effectual support in every 
instance." 

On his return from this expedition Captain Taylor found a pack- 
age for him from tin" seat of government ; and upon iis being 
opened, was discovered to contain a commission from President 
Madison, conferring on him the rank of brevet Major, as a reward 
for his gallant defence of Fort Harrison, and bore the date of that 
event. 

M tjor Taylor was promoted to colonel in 1832, which has been 
his lineal rank until recently, when he was a). pointed by the Presi- 
dent and senate M uok-ci.mu u.. according to the provisions of an 
act passed the pres< at session to increase the Dumber v( ."Major and 
Brigadier-generals, etc. In the early part of the difficulties in 



BATTLE OF OKEE-CHO-BEE. 37 

Florida he repaired thither, and few officers rendered the country 
better service in that campaign. 

On the 25th of December, 1837, was fought the disastrous battle 
of Okee-cho-bee, between Colonel Taylor and the Seminoles and 
Mickasukies under Alligator and Sam Jones. The United States 
army had now been in operation in Florida for two years, and 
Colonel Taylor was in command of the first brigade, at Fort Gard- 
ner, south of the Withlacoochee. On the 19th of December, he 
received a communication from Major-general Jesup, informing 
him that all hopes of bringing the war to a close by negotiation, 
through the interference or mediation of the Cherokee delegation, 
were at an end, Sam Jones, with the Mickasukies, having deter- 
mined to fight it out to the last ; and directing him to proceed with 
the least possible delay against any portion of the enemy he might 
hear of within striking distance, and to destroy or capture him. 

The next morning after receiving this communication, Colonel 
Taylor marched with the whole of his command, except an ade- 
quate force under two officers left to protect the depot, with twelve 
days' rations only, his means of transportation not enabling him to 
carry more. His force consisted of Captain Munro's company of 
the 4th artillery, consisting of thirty-five men; the 1st infantry, 
under Colonel Davenport, one hundred and ninety-seven strong ; 
the 4th infantry, under command of Lieutenant-colonel Foster, two 
hundred and seventy-four men ; the 6th infantry, under Lieutenant- 
colonel Thompson, two hundred and twenty-one men; the Mis- 
souri volunteers, one hundred and eighty men ; Morgan's Spies, 
forty-seven; and thirty pioneers, thirteen pontoniers, and seventy 
Delaware Indians ; making in all, exclusive of officers, one thou- 
sand thirty-two men ; the greater part of the Shawnees having been 
detached, and the balance refusing to accompany him, under the 
pretext that a number of them were sick, and the remainder were 
without moccasins. 

He moved down the west side of the Kissimmee, in a southerly 
course, towards Lake Istopoga, for the reasons that a portion of the 
hostiles were to be found in that direction ; that if General Jesup 
should fall in with the Mickasukies and drive them, they might at- 
tempt to elude him by crossing the Kissimmee from the east to the 



38 LIFE OF GENERA I. TAYLOR. 

west side of the peninsula, between Fort Gardner and its entrance 
into Okee-cho-bee, in which case he might be near at hand to in- 
; tliciii ; to overawe and induce such of the enemy as had 
l>rcn making propositions to give themselves up, and who had been 
Blow to fulfil their promises ; and also to erect block-houses and a 
small picket work on the Kissimmee, for a third depot, forty or fifty 
- below the fort, and obtain a knowledge of the country, as he 
had no guide to rely upon, and by this means open a communica- 
tion with Colonel Smith, who was operating up the Caloosehatchee 
or Sanybel river by his orders. 

In the evening of his first day's march. Colonel Taylor met the 
Indian chief Jumper, with his family, and a part of his band, con- 
sisting of fifteen men, some of them with families, and a few nc- 
3— in all sixty-three souls, on his way to give himself up, in 
conformity to a previous arrangement Colonel Taylor had entered 
into with him. They were conducted by Captain Parks, a half-breed 
at the head of the friendly Indians, both Shawnees and Delawares. 
The army encamped that night near the spot, and the next morn- 
ing, having sent on Jumper and his party to Fort Frazer, Colonel 
Taylor continued his march, preceded by three Seminoles, to gain 
intelligence as to the position of the enemy. About noon of the 
same day, he sent forward one battalion of G< uncut, un- 

der command of Lieutenant-colonel Price, to pick up any strag- 
glers that might fall in his way ; to encamp two or three miles in 
advance of the main force; to act with great circumspection, and 
to communicate promptly any occurrence that might take place in 
his vicinity important for Colonel Taylor to know. 

About ten o'clock in the evening, Colonel Taylor received a note 

from Colonel Price, stating thai the three Seminoles sent forward 

in the morning had returned ; thai they had been al or when \ 

gator had encamped* twelve or fifteen miles in his advance; thai 

Alligator had hit there with a pari of his family four days before, 

pretexl of separating his relations. &c, from the Mickasu- 

preparatory to hia surrendering with them; that there were 

.! families remaining at the camp referred to, who wished to 

give themselves up, and would remain there until Colonel T. 

t ■• -k j 'i of them, unless tin \ were forcibly earned off thai 



BATTLE OF OKEE-CHO-BEE. 39 

night by the Mickasukies, who were encamped at no great dis- 
tance from them. 

In consequence of this intelligence, after directing Lieutenant- 
colonel Davenport to follow him early in the morning with the in- 
fantry, a little after midnight Colonel Taylor put himself at the 
head of the residue of his mounted men, joined Lieutenant-colonel 
Price, proceeded on, crossing Istopoga outlet, and soon after day- 
light took possession of the encampment referred to, when he 
found the inmates had not been disturbed, amounting in all to 
twenty-two individuals. He learned from an old man among them 
that Alligator was anxious to give himself up, and he sent him to 
inform him that if he was sincere in his professions, he would meet 
him the next day, at a place designated, on the Kissimmee. 

When the infantry came up, Colonel Taylor moved on to the 
place of meeting with Alligator, which on reaching late in the eve- 
ning, encamped. At eleven o'clock the old Indian returned, bring- 
ing a very equivocal message from Alligator, whom he stated he had 
met accidentally. Also that the Mickasukies were still encamped 
on the opposite side of the river, where they had been for some 
days, and determined to have a fight with the United States troops. 
Colonel Taylor at once determined on indulging them as soon as 
practicable. Accordingly the next morning, after laying out a 
small stockade work for the protection of a future depot, in order 
to enable him to move with the greatest celerity, he deposited the 
whole of his heavy baggage, including artillery, &c, and having 
provisioned the command, to include the twenty-sixth, after leaving 
Captain Munroe with his company, the pioneer, pontoniers, with 
eighty-five sick and disabled infantry, and a portion of the friendly 
Indians, who alleged that they were unable to march further, 
crossed the Kissimmee, taking the old Indian as a guide who had 
been captured the day before, and who accompanied them with 
great apparent reluctance in pursuit of the enemy, and early the 
next day reached Alligator's encampment, situated on the edge of 
Cabbage-tree Hammock, in the midst of a large prairie ; from the 
appearance of which, and other encampments in the vicinity, and 
the many evidences of slaughtered cattle, there must have been 
several hundred individuals. 



40 LIFl OF GENERAL 1WVL0R. 

The spies surprised another encampment at no great distance 
in the midst of a swamp, in which were a small party of young 

men, an old man, and some women and children, who raised the 
white flag, and were taken possession of. Tiny were Seminoles, 
and informed Colonel Taylor that the Mickasuki -. led by 

A-vi-a-ka, (Sam Jones,) was some ten or twelve miles distant, en- 
camped in a swamp, and were prepared to fight. Dism 
old man, and making provision for those that came in, Colonel Tay- 
lor moved on, under guidance of the Seminoles, towards the camp 
of the Mickasukies. 

Between two and three o'clock in the afternoon he reached a 
very dense cypress swamp, through which the) 7 were compelled to 
pass, and in which the guides informed them they might be at- 
tacked. After making the necessary disposition fur battle, it was 
ascertained that there was no enemy to oppose them. The army 
d over and encamped for the night, it being very late. During 
the passage of the rear, Captain Parks, who was in advance with 
a few friendly Indians, fell in with two of the enemy's spies — one 
on horseback the other on foot — and succeeded in capturing the 
latter. He was an active young warrior, armed with an excellent 
rifle, fifty balls in his pouch, and an adequate proportion of powder. 
This Indian confirmed the information which had previously been 
received from the other Indians, and, in addition, stated that a 
body el Seminoles, headed by John Cohua, Co-a-coo-chee, and, no 
doubt, Alligator, with other chiefs, were encamped five or six miles 
Iroin them, near the Mickasukies, with a cypress swamp and dense 
imock between them and the latter. 

The army moved forward at daylighl the next morning, and after 
marching fiveor >i\ mile- reached the camp of the Seminoles, on 
the borders ol another cypress swamp, which must have contained 
-i \ eral hundri d, and bore evident traces of ha\ ing be< n abandoned 
in a great hurry, as tin' lire- were still burning, and quantities of 
beef lying en die ground unconsumed. 

lb re the troops wire again disposed of m order of battle, but 
they found no enemy to o] em, and the command was en ssed 

over, where they entered a large prairie in their front, on which two 
or three hundred cattle wen . and a number of Indian po- 



BATTLE OF OKEE-CHO-BEE. 41 

nies. Here another young Indian warrior was captured, armed 
and equipped as the former. He pointed out a dense hammock on 
the right, about a mile distant, in which he said the hostiles were 
situated and waiting to give them battle. 

At this place the final disposition was made to attack them, 
which was in two lines ; the volunteers under Gentry, and Mor- 
gan's spies, to form the first line in extended order, who were in- 
structed to enter the hammock, and, in the event of being attacked 
and hard pressed, were to fall back in rear of the regular troops, 
out of reach of the enemy's fire ; the second line was composed of 
the fourth and sixth infantry, who were instructed to sustain the 
volunteers, the first infantry being held in reserve. 

Moving on in the direction of the hammock, after proceeding 
about a quarter of a mile they reached the swamp that separated 
them from the enemy, three quarters of a mile in breadth, being 
totally impassable for horse and nearly so for foot, covered with a 
thick growth of saw-grass five feet high, and about knee-deep in 
mud and water, which extended to the left as far as the eye could 
reach, and to the right to a part of the swamp and hammock they 
had just crossed, through which ran a deep creek. At the edge of 
the swamp all the men were dismounted, and the horses and bag- 
gage left under a suitable guard. Captain Allen was detached with 
the two companies of mounted infantry to examine the swamp and 
hammock to the right ; and in case he should not find the enemy 
in that direction, was to return to the baggage, and, in the event of 
his hearing a heavy firing, was immediately to join Colonel Taylor. 

6 



42 LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 



CHAPTER VI. 

Battle of Okee-cho-bee Concluded— Effect of this Battle— Colonel Taylor given in 
( lommand of Posts. — Promotion. — Takes Command of Army in Florida. — Resigns. — 
Ordered to Texas. 

All the arrangements for an attack upon the enemy having 
. Colonel Taylor crossed the swamp in the order stated in the 
last chapter. On reaching the borders of the hammock the volun- 
teers and spies received a heavy fire from the enemy, which was 
returned by them for a short time, when their gallant commander. 
Colonel Gentry, fell, mortally wounded. They mostly broke, and 
instead of forming in the rear of the regulars, as had been diri 
they retired across the swamp to their b and horses, 

could they again be brought into action as a body, although efforts 
were made by Colonel Taylor's staff to induce them to do so. 

The enemy, however, were promptly checked and driven back 
by the fourth and sixth infantry, which in truth might be said to be 
a moving battle. The weight of the enemy's fire was principally 
concentrated on five companies of the sixth infantry, which not only 
stood firm, but continued to advance until their gallant commander. 
Lieutenant-colonel Thompson, and his adjutant, Lieutenant Center, 
were killed ; and every officer, with one « zception, as w< II as 
of the non-commissioned, including the Bergeant-major and lour oi 
the orderly-sergi mts, killed and wounded of these compa 
when thai portion of the regiment retired for a short distance and 
were reformed, one of these companies having but four members 
left untouched. 

Lieutenant-colonel Fosti r, with biz companies, amounting in all 
to one hundred and sixty men, gained the hammock in good order. 
where he was joined by Captain Noel, with the two remaining 
companies of the sixth infantry, and Captain Gillam, oi Gentry's 
volunteers, with a few additional men, and continued to drive the 

enemy for a considerable time, and by a change of front, separated 

his hue, and continued to drive him Until he reached the greal lake 
Okce-cho-bee, which was in the rear of the enemy's position, and 



BATTLE OF OKEE-CHO-BEE. 43 

on which their encampment extended for more than a mile. As 
soon as Colonel Taylor was informed that Captain Allen was ad- 
vancing, he ordered the first infantry to move to the left, gain the 
enemy's right flank and turn it, which order was executed in the 
promptest manner possible ; and as soon as that regiment got in 
position, the enemy gave one fire and retreated, being pursued by 
the first, fourth, and sixth, and some of the volunteers who had 
joined them, until near night, and until these troops were nearly 
exhausted, and the enemy driven in all directions. 

The action was a severe pne, and continued from half past twelve 
until after three P. M., a part of the time very close and severe. 
Colonel Taylor's command suffered much, having twenty-six killed 
and one hundred and twelve wounded, among whom were some of 
his most valuable officers. The hostiles, it is thought, suffered in 
equal proportion, they having left ten dead on the ground, besides, 
doubtless, carrying off many more, as is customary with them when 
practicable. 

As soon as the enemy was completely broken, Colonel Taylor 
turned his attention to taking care of the wounded, to facilitate their 
removal to his baggage, where he ordered an encampment to be 
formed, directed Captain Taylor to cross over to the spot, and em- 
ploy every individual whom he might find there in constructing a 
small footway across the swamp ; this, with great exertions, was 
completed in a short time after dark, when all the dead and wounded 
were carried over in litters, made for that purpose, with one ex- 
ception, a private, who was killed, and could not be found. 

In speaking of this disastrous though successful action, Colonel 
Taylor says, in his official communication to the department, " I 
trust I may be permitted to say, that I experienced one of the 
most trying scenes of my life, and he who could have looked on it 
with indifference, his nerves must have been very differently organ- 
ized from my own ; besides the killed, there lay one hundred and 
twelve wounded officers and soldiers, who had accompanied me 
one hundred and forty-five miles, most of the way through an un- 
explored wilderness, without guides, who had so gallantly beat the 
enemy, under my orders, in his strongest position, and who had to 
be conveyed back through swamps and hammocks, from whence 



44 LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 

we set out without any apparent means of doing. This sen-ice. 
however, was encountered and overcome, and they have been con- 
veyed thus far, and proceeded on to Tan . B iy, on rude litters, 
acted with the axe and knife alone, with poles and dry hides 
— the latter being found in great abundance at the encampment 
of the hostiles. The litters were conveyed on the backs of our 
weak and tottering horses, aided by the residue of the command, 
with more ease and comfort to the sufferers than I could have sup- 
: and with as much as they could have been in ambulances 
of the most improved and modern construction." 

The day after the battle Colonel Taylor ami his command re- 
mained at their encampment, occupied in taking care of the 
wounded, and in the sad office of interring the dead ; also in pre- 
paring litters for the removal of the wounded, and collecting, with a 
portion of the mounted men, the horses ami cattle in the vicinity 
belonging to the enemy; of which they found about one hundred 
of the former, many of them saddled, and nearly three hum:; 
the latter. On the morning of the 27th, Colond Taylor left the 
encampment for the Kissimmee, where they had left their heavy 
ige, which place they reached about noon the next day, and 
finding the stockade which he had ordered to be constructed by 
Captain Munroe nearly completed, he left two companies and a 
few Indians to garrison it, and proceeded on to Fort Gardner. Ar- 
riving there, he sent on the wounded to Tampa Bay, with the fourth 
and sixth infantry, the former to ball at fort Frazer, remaining 
himseli at Port Gardner with the first, in order to make prepara- 
tions to take the field again as soon as his horses could be recruited, 
and his supplies i\i a sufficient state of forwardness to justify the 
3ure. 

In speaking of the command, Colonel Taylor commends the 
gallantry of the following named officers, most vl' whom had been 
engaged with him in his various campaigns in Florida and 
where, and some of whom have since become known with credit to 

themselves: Lieutenant-colonel Davenport, Colonel Fosterj Major 
Graham, Captain Allen, Lieutenant Hooper, Captain Noel, Lieu- 
tenant Wood, Captain Andrews. Lieutenanl Walker, Colonel Gen- 
try, of the Missouri volunteers, Captain Gillam, Lieutenant Blake- 



BATTLE OF OKEE-CHO-BEE. 45 

ly, Captain Childs, Lieutenants Rogers, Flanagan, Hase, Gorden, 
Hill, Griffin, Harrison, and McClure, Major Sconce, Captain Tay- 
lor, Lieutenant-colonel Thompson, who fell at the head of his regi- 
ment, Captain Swearingen, Adjutant Center, Lieutenant Brooke, 
Major Brant, Lieutenant Babbitt, and several surgeons and assist- 
ant surgeons attached to the command. 

This stroke of Colonel Taylor's had a tremendous and beneficial 
effect towards subduing the Indians in that quarter. An officer 
writing from Fort Bassinger, subsequent to this battle, says : " The 
Indian prisoners now admit that they lost twenty killed on the 
ground, and a great many wounded, in the fight with Colonel Tay- 
lor. They had a strong position, and fought well, but were terribly 
whipped, and have never returned near the ground since." 

Jumper, Alligator, and other chiefs and warriors, afterward? 
came in, whom Colonel Taylor sent out again from time to time, 
to induce their hostile companions to surrender themselves to the 
commanding officer, and by this means large numbers were brought 
to yield. 

The general policy of Colonel Taylor while in Florida, together 
with his great industry and perseverance, and the hardy constitu- 
tion he possessed, rendered his services immensely valuable to the 
government and country in subduing the savages, and bringing 
about a peace and reconciliation on this southern frontier. 

Colonel Taylor, after the battle of Okee-cho-bee, established 
himself at Fort Bassinger, on the Kissimmee, about twenty miles 
west of Fort Lloyd. On the 1st March following, Mr. Poinsett, 
Secretary of War, wrote to Major-general Jesup, from which com- 
munication we extract as follows : 

" The department indulged the hope, that with the extensive 
means placed at your disposal, the war, by a vigorous effort, might 
be brought to a close this campaign. If, however, you are of 
opinion that, from the nature of the country, and the character of 
the enemy, such a result is impracticable, and that it is advisable 
to make a temporary arrangement with the Seminoles, by which 
the safety of the settlements and the posts will be secured through- 
out the summer, you are at liberty to do so. In that event, you 
will establish posts at Tampa, and on the eastern shore, and 



46 LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 

wherever else they are, in your opinion, accessary to preserve the 
peace of the country ; and I would suggest the propriety of leaving 
Colonel Zachary Taylor, of the first infantry, in command of 
Upon this suggestion, it is presumed General Jesup acted, 
and Colonel Taylor was given in command of the posts along the 
frontier. 

In consideration of the services rendered in Florida, the depart- 
ment at Washington conferred on Colonel Taylor the rank of 
brigadier-general by brevet, to take date from the battle of Okec- 
cho-bee. 

Major-general Jesup having reported that the operations in 
Florida would probabl] terminate on the 1st May, the Adjutant- 
general issued a "general order" on the 10th April, 1S38, making 
such a disposition of the forces as seemed necessary ; the fifth ar- 
ticle of which reads as follows : " Major-general Jesup will take all 
the necessary orders for the prompt execution of this order, and 
will then turn over the command of the troops in Florida to brevet 
Brigadier-* reneral Z. Taylor, colonel of the first infantry ; and on 
being relieved, he will repair to the seat of government, and re- 
sume the duties of quartermaster-general." In the May following 
General Taylor was invested with the command of the troops 
agreeably with the above order, and General Jesup proceeded to 
Washington, reaching there about the 1st June. 

General Taylor remained in command until the fore part of 
1 & 10, when he requested leave to retire from the command of the 
army in Florida, and was relieved by Brigadier-general Armistead, 
and arrived in New Orleans, with lus family, on the 21st June. 

In tin- following year he was assigned to the command of the 
Becond department, on the Arkansas, to relieve General Arbuckle. 
On his \\a\ i>' Fori Gibson, while at Little Rock, he was tendered, 
in a very handsome manner, a public dinner, by the citizens of that 
town, as an expression <>! esteem for his " personal worth and me- 
ritorious public BerviceB." I reneral Ta\ lor, in a brief note, declined 
the invitation on account of having been already detained on his 
journey an unusual length of time, and being anxious to proceed 
on as rapidly as possible to his destined post. General Taylor soon 
changed his head-quarters to Fort Smith ; and subsequently he 



LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 47 

was transferred to Fort Jesup, Louisiana ; where the following or- 
der from the department, dated the 17th September, 1844, reached 
him : — 

" Sir, — The general-in-chief has received instructions, through 
the department of state, from the Executive, to hold the troops, 
now between the Red and Sabine rivers, ready to march, in case 
of a requisition being made by the Charge d' Affaires residing near 
the government of Texas, to such point within our limits or those 
of Texas, as the said Charge may designate, in order to restrain 
any hostile incursion on the part of the border Indians, as required 
by the provision of existing treaties. 

"You will please to take such preliminary measures as may be 
deemed necessary to put the great part of the forces under your 
command designated above, in march for the above purpose at 
short notice. 

" Should the apprehended hostilities with the Indians alluded to 
break out, an officer of rank, probably yourself, will be sent to 
command the United States forces placed in the field, and who 
will receive hereafter further instructions from his government. 

" L. Thomas, 
" Assistant Adjutant-General. 
" Brigadier-General Z. Taylor, 

" Com. 1st Department Fort Jesup, La." 

The command of the " Army of Observation" in Texas was 
given soon after to General Taylor, though of course ranked by 
■General Gaines, and somewhat to the mortification of the latter, 
though not to his disparagement, as his gallantry and fame are 
established beyond all contingencies. The assignment, however, 
shows the confidence the department placed in the abilities of 
General Taylor. 

On the 16th of July, General Taylor arrived at New Orleans 
with his staff from Fort Jesup, on his way to Texas ; and in the 
next march he crossed the Nueces, and planted the United States 
flag in the ancient department of Tamaulipas. 

We shall now give a brief sketch of the lives of some of th.3 



LIFE OP <.I:.\ERaL TAYLOR. 

brave officers that took part in the battles of Palo Alto and Rcsaca 
de la Palma, previous to the giving an account of those engage- 
ment-. We remit we cannot increase the number of these per- 

. I narratives, but want of material at hand prevents. There 
are very many others who distinguished themselves not only in 
'incuts, but stand before the country well tried and 
valorous officers, and whose names have years ago found a place 
in the annals of our frontier defence. We cannot forbear, however, 
mentioning some of the officers so warmly alluded to in (>cneral 
Taylor's official reports, and whose wisdom, great experience, and 
skill, served to direct the grand movements of those days, which 
broughl about the result so gratifying and honorable to the country 
and all concerned. Lieutenant-Colonel Mcintosh, an old war of- 
ficer, and one never yet found behind his duty, or lacking in energy, 
with his regiment the fifth infantry, gave the greatest proof of bra- 
very and steadiness in the action of Palo Alto by receiving a deter- 
mined charge of the enemy's lancers, and then repulsing them ; 
and in the action of the following day, he shared in the honors and 
the dangers, being engaged in the hottest part of the contest, and 
having been twice severely wounded. 

Lieutenant-Colonel Belknap, a -native of the empire State, and 
an officer, perhaps, second to none of his rank in point of ability, 
distinguished himself greatly by putting, with his brigade, the whole 
right line of the enemy to rout on the 8th, and by carrying his 
batteries and driving him from his position on the 9th, and effectu- 
ally putting an end to the contest. General Taylor, alter paving 
high compliments to Colonel Twiggs, the Becond in command, 
Lieutenant-Colonel Garland, commanding third brigade, Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Childs, commanding the artillery battalion. Major Al- 
len, and Captain Morris, of fourth and third infantry, continues : 

" The impression made by Captain Duncan's battery upon the 

extreme right of the enemy's line at the affair of Palo Alto, con- 
tributed large!] to the result of the day. The eighteen-pounder 
battery which played a conspicuous pari in the action of the 8th, 
was admirably Berved by Lieutenant Churchill, third artillery, as- 
ted !>\ Lieutenant Wood, topographical engineers. Captain 
McCall, fourth infantry, rendered distinguished service with the 



CREDIT TO OFFICERS. 49 

advanced corps under his orders. Its loss in killed and wounded 
will show how closely it was engaged. I may take occasion to 
say that in two former instances Captain McCall has rendered val- 
uable services as a partisan officer." 

" I derived efficient aid on both days from all the officers of my 
staff. Captain Bliss, Assistant Adjutant-General ; Lieutenant- 
Colonel Payne, Inspector-General ; Lieutenant Eaton, A. D. C. ; 
Captain Waggaman, Commissary of Subsistence ; Lieutenant Sca- 
vitt, Engineer, and Lieutenants Blake and Meade, Topographical 
Engineers, promptly conveyed my orders to every part of the field. 
Lieutenant-Colonel Payne was wounded in the affair of the 9th, 
and I have already had occasion to report the melancholy death of 
Lieutenant Blake by accident." 

" Major Craig and Lieutenant Brereton, of the ordnance depart- 
ment, were actively engaged in their appropriate duties, and Sur- 
geon Craig, medical director, superintended in person the arduous 
duties of the field hospitals. I take this occasion to mention gen- 
erally the devotion to duty of the medical staff of the army, who 
have been untiring in their exertions, both in the field and in the 
hospitals, to alleviate the sufferings of the wounded in both armies. 
Captains Crossman and Myers, of the quartermaster's department, 
who had charge of the heavy supply train at both engagements, 
conducted it in a most satisfactory manner, and finally brought it 
up, without the smallest loss, to its destination." 

Major Staniford of 5th infantry, Captain Smith of artillery bat- 
talion, Captain Ker of 2d dragoons, Captain Buchanan 4th infan- 
try, Captains Graham, Morrison, Hoe, McKavett, Arnold, Page, 
(since dead from his wounds,) Scott 4th artillery, Crossman, Myers, 
Lieutenants Shover, Pleasanton, Winship, Wood, Dobbins, Scott, 
French, Gates, Burbank, Inge, Sackett, Cochran, Hays, McDonald, 
Chase, and Daniels, all distinguished themselves in their various 
duties. 



50 LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 



CHAPTER VII. 

Major Rinogold. — His Nativity. — Joins General So -Enters Service as 

Lieutenant. — V\'.-nt t<> Fort Moultrie. — Assigned to Company (".- ! 
pan v. — The Flying Artillery. — Ordered to T^ — H ee in the Battle of 

Palo Alto. — Is Wounded. — His Death. — Remarks of a Baltimore Editor. — Eulogy 
of a Philadelphia Editor and Judge of Court. 

Samuel Rixggold was born in Washington county, Maryland, 
in 1800. He was the eldest son of General Samuel Ringgold, and 
his mother was daughter of General John Cadwallader, a distin- 
guished citizen of Philadelphia, and renowned in the annals of the 
American revolution. Ringgold was sent to the Military Academy 
.it West Point, in 181 \, and graduated at the head of his c 
1818, having performed the arduous duties and requirements of 
that institution with credit and honor to himself. He entered the 
army as a lieutenant. General Scott, having his head-quarters at 
Philadelphia, r< recommendations of him, and being some- 

what acquainted with his family, and satisfied of his merit. s< 
In in at once for one of his aids, and he repaired to head-quar- 
ad joined the staff, which station he occupied for nearly three 
years. 

While aid to General Scott, he enjoyed the respect and confi- 
dence of that distinguished officer, and profit . by the in- 
struction he received under so accomplished a soldier. 1! 

talities of heart and mind thai i ! him to his 

associates and his superiors, and he was 
said to have no enemies, though I I to a professi 

mni I \ calculated to er envy, distrust, or rivalry. 

Upon leaving the staff he entered active service doubly qualified 
by the adi e had ei plication he had 

pursued while in this honorable position. He was attached to the 
third regimenl as lieutenant by brevet, and in July, 1822, he was 
promoted to first-lieutenant, vice Samuel Spotts raised to captain. 

In 1 831, he accompanied his company t< Fori Moultrie, South 
Carolina, where he remained until the difficulties occasioned by 



SKETCH OF RINGGOLD. 51 

the agitation of the question of " nullification'" were ended in 
1833. 

In July, 1834, he received the rank of captain by brevet, to date 
from May 8, 1832. August, 1836, he was promoted to captain, 
and assigned Company C, third artillery. In the latter part of this 
month he was sent to Savannah, Georgia, with his command, to 
garrison the fort at that place. But not long subsequent to this he 
was ordered to Florida, where he served through the greater part 
of the war, to the great injury of his health. 

By orders of November 5, 1838, Captain Ringgold's company 
was disbanded, and he was instructed to proceed to Carlisle, Penn- 
sylvania, and organize and equip a company of light artillery, in 
conformity with an act " to authorize the mounting and equipment 
of a part of the army of the United States," passed 1831, the men 
to be detailed from the first and second artillery, and to be dropped 
from the rolls of their respective companies, and mustered as Com- 
pany C of third regiment. Captain Ringgold's former company, 
then in the field, was broken up, and the men transferred to the 
other companies of the regiment, the subalterns only joining the 
company at Carlisle. For " meritorious services" in Florida, the 
rank of major by brevet was conferred upon him by the depart- 
ment. 

Major Ringgold now applied himself diligently to the perfection 
of discipline in this arm of the military service, and with great 
success. Mainly through his and Captain Duncan's instrumental- 
ity, the arm of light or flying artillery has become the most impor- 
tant in our service ; and though perhaps it was never thoroughly 
tested until on the fields of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Pal ma, the 
great share it contributed to the result of those battles has distin- 
guished it as one altogether important, and demanding the serious 
attention of the department in its perfect organization and exten- 
sion. The performances of the flying artillery in an engagement 
are of the most ingenious character, and the effects of their bat- 
tery the most destructive to the enemy. The arms made use of 
are the sword, pistol, and cannon, the latter used almost as ex- 
pertly as the former. " They advance rapidly, and with astonishing 
suddenness halt, dismount, separate their cannon from the car- 



52 LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 

nages, replace them, mount, and start oil again. At a certain 
signal after the firing, they instantly drop; while the enemy, sup- 
posing them disabled, venture too near, and in an instant are com- 
pletely surprised, and are shot down before ihey can collect them- 
es." 
Major Ringgold was ordered from Fort McIIenry to Texas with 
the army of occupation, or " observation" as it was first designated. 
When General Taylor left Point Isabel to return to the fort oppo- 
Matamoras, Major Ringgold, with his regiment, occupied a 
position near the vanguard. Upon reaching the field of Palo Alto, 
at about three o'clock, in the afternoon of the 6th of May. the ac- 
tion commenced by the Mexicans opening their batteries on their 
right, at a distance of half a mile from our line. The fire was re- 
sponded to by two eighteen-pounders in charge of Lieutenant 
Churchill. Major Ringgold now took position to the right and 
front of the eighteen-pounders, at a distance of seven hundred 
yards from the enemy, subsequently advancing one hundred yards, 
and opened his battery with tremendous effect, as was shown the 
next day by the large number of the enemy's dead found on the 
field along this line. 

Major Ringgold pointed the guns with his own hand, and with 
unerring precision, directing the shot not only to groups and m ss - 
of the enemy, but to particular men in their lines, lie saw them 
fall in numbers ; their places occupied by others, who in their turn 
were shot down, pointing his guns to the same place : and. to use 
In- own words, he " fell as confident of hitting his mark as though 
he had been using a rifle." The infantry was formed in his rear 
as his support, and cheered rapturously the brilliant movements 
ami destructive execution of lus battery, while they received the 
enemy's fire with great coolness at a shoulder, impatient only for 
the order to charge. 

At Length a regiment of the enemy's lancers were seen to make 
a demonstration towards our right, apparently to gain posa 
of our wagon tram, when Lieutenant Ridgley was detached with 
two pieces to check the movement. This left Major Ringgold 
short of men, or rather with a less cumber than he desired, and 
considered actually necessary to execute his movement with ccler- 



SKETCH OF RINGGOLD. 53 

ity, and to supply the places of those who fell or became disabled. 
This was a source of regret, even in his last moments, that he was 
not enabled to do the execution he otherwise would had his com- 
plement of men been one hundred instead of little over half that 
number. But he gallantly and nobly did his duty. Not a shade 
of incapacity, want of diligence, lack of bravery on the battle- 
field, can rest on his memory, or the sunshine of his military 
character. 

Major Ringgold, however, continued to play on the enemy with 
great success with his remaining pieces, two in number, advancing, 
retrograding, or shifting his position according to the nature of the 
action, for three hours, when he was shot through both thighs by a 
six pound ball. He was mounted, and the ball came from the 
right, passing through his right thigh about midway, at right angles 
through the holsters, tearing away the front part of the saddle and 
the horse's shoulders, and into the Major's left thigh. An officer 
came quickly to his aid — 

" Don't stay with me : you have work to do" said the gallant 
Major; " go ahead." The command of his company fell on Lieu- 
tenant Shover, who managed the batteries skilfully during the rest 
of the day. 

He was conveyed to his camp in the charge of Dr. Byrne, of the 
army, placed in comfortable quarters, and his wounds dressed. An 
immense mass of muscles and integuments were carried away from 
both thighs — the arteries were not divided, neither were the bones 
broken. Dr. Foltz, surgeon United States army, remained with him 
through the night. He had but little pain, and at intervals slept. 
He continued to grow worse through the 9th, but conversed cheer- 
fully upon the incidents of the battle, constantly adverting to the effi- 
ciency of his guns, and the brave conduct of his officers and men. 
He died at one o'clock on the morning of the 10th May, and was 
buried on the next day with military honors, lamented by the whole 
camp. 

Says a Baltimore editor, he was " an accomplished gentleman, 
beloved by his friends, respected by all. He was devoted to his 
profession, and justly appreciated the high responsibilities of an 
officer in command. He rigidly enforced discipline, at all times 



54 LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 

and in all things >ly, no officer had more entirely 

then- and the aflfectionat< of all his 

officers and mi 

I news of Major R/s death reaching Baltimore, a mo- 

tion wa.^ made in the county court, then in session, to adjourn, in 
consequence of a close relation existing between the leading coun- 
sel in the case under consideration and the deceased, which motion 
was agreed to. Judge Legrand, in his remarks on the i 
closed as follows : "Major Ringgold was a citizen of Baltimore, 
known to us all, to some of us intimately, and by whomsoever, and 
wheresoever known, recognised as a gentleman of the highest - 
of honor, and of the kindliest feelings of which humanity is suscep- 
tible. He is gone, but the fame his late brilliant conduct won will 
hereafter constitute the pride and the history of his country." 

We close this brief sketch with an eloquent extract (and we hope 
not fulsome eulogy) from the Philadelphia North American news- 
. valuing more highly the testimony of those who knew the 
subject best with regard to his superior qualities as an officer, and 
amiabilities as a man. " The death of this accomplished officer is a 
. loss to the country. He had been intrusted with the revision 
of a system of tactics for our army, and devoted much time and 
study to improving upon the English an.! French system. His 
as fine a one as any service could boast, lie leaves un- 
finished, we think, a work which he was preparing, on the utility 
and practicability of t lie flying artillery arm in servi< ' R.'s 

constitution was much impaired by Ins long campaigns in Florida; 
but, pasSionately attached to the pro! - I arms, he s 

mained in the army, and died a martyr to Ins country. 

"Hisdeath has stricken thousands el" hearts, that gusli under 
the blow, with feelings which no ordinary public calamity could 
have excited. II'- was generally known and appreciated in this 
city as the Bayard of the age— the star of the war ; and in.- i 

was watched with ;. -- Thai it would b 

rious no one doubted ; but who thought that an - would 

sink B i ul of chivalry and honor, ac< plis sa 
soldier, 1- I a man, it dema 

oncile us to such a sacrifice. And yet a is a 



SKETCH OF RINGGOLD. 55 

noble one. In the flash of his fame he has died, as he lived — for 
his country. The offering was doubtless a glad one. He desired 
no better fate than such a death ; he could leave no richer inherit- 
ance than such an example. While we feel as if destiny had robbed 
the future of the fame which such a nature must have wen, we 
dare not repine that his career has been closed, in its morning, with 
this sunburst of glory. His memory will be gratefully cherished 
so long as honor has a victory, freedom a hero, or his country a 
name." 



56 LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Major Brown. — Colont.l Cross, and Captain Walker. 

The services Major J. Brown has rendered his country are too 
well known to require an extended notice of them here. He was 
a " Green-mountain boy," — a native of Vermont, — and entered the 
American army as a common soldier in the 7th infantry, at the 
commencement of the war of 1S12, at the age of twenty-four or 
twenty-five. His merit was soon perceived in the active service 
of the war upon the northern frontier, and quickly won for him an 
ensign's commission. 

Major Brown was in nearly all the hard-fought battles on the 
Niagara during the years 1^13 and '14. Before the close of the 
war he obtained a lieutenancy, and from that rose by regular gra- 
dations to the rank of major, in which capacity he has served for 
many years. For some time he filled the office of commissary of 
subsistence at Council Bluffs, afterwards quartermaster and com- 
missary at St. Louis. At one time he was employed in conduct- 
ing the tribes of emigrant Indians to the west, and was in active 
service during the whole period of the war in Florida. 

His habits of exact discipline and strict accountability made his 
services always in request. Possessing the confidence of his su- 
periors, and the good will of those under his command, he was an 
officer in the proper acceptation of the term. 

Ii is from officers such as these thai the country expects sub- 
stantial benefit to the service — men of tried courage, of patient 
endurance, of exactness, punctuality, and system, to whom integ- 
rity is like an instinct, who have learned their profession well, and 

known the advantages of discipline in the army, and whose moral 
characteristics are firmness and perseverance, to the accomplish- 
ment of grand or Important achievements, and whose shrewdness; 
and judgmenl were adequate to the task of directing < i 
quired for such Ben ice. 

In placing Major Brown in command of the works opposite Ma- 



SKETCH OF MAJOR BROWN. 57 

tamoras, General Taylor displayed his sagacity in the knowledge 
of character and officer-like qualities in a comrade in arms, which 
perhaps his experience and actual observation helped him to foresee. 
He found also the trust and confidence he reposed in that command, 
were not misplaced, and the great regret and sorrow is, that that 
gallant officer should have fallen ere his task should have been 
successfully acquitted, and the laurel placed upon his brows ; that 
the army should have lost at this time so valuable an officer, and 
the country so worthy and efficient a defender. 

The bombardment of the fort opposite Matamoras has been de- 
scribed in another place. Major Brown was given the command 
on the 1st of May, at which time General Taylor set out for Point 
Isabel. His command consisted of about six hundred men. The 
bombardment commenced on the 3d, and, on the 6th, at ten o'clock 
in the morning, a shell which had been thrown from the enemy's 
battery, in rear of the fort, fell near where commander Brown was 
standing, bursted, and mangled one of his legs in such a manner as 
to cause his death three days after, amputation having been per- 
formed on the day he was wounded. In honor of the late com- 
mander, General Taylor gave the works the designation of " Fort 
Brown." 

General Taylor, in his official communication, says, " it affords 
me peculiar pleasure to report that the field-work opposite Mata- 
moras has sustained itself handsomely during a cannonade and bom- 
bardment of one hundred and sixty hours. But the pleasure is 
alloyed with profound regret at the loss of its heroic and indomita- 
ble commander, Major Brown, who died to-day from the effect of 
a shell. His loss would be a severe one to the service at any time, 
but to the army under my orders, it is indeed irreparable." 



Captain Montgomery. — We take pleasure in alluding to the 
gallant commander of the 8th infantry in connection with these 
actions, on the 8th and 9th of May, in the strongest terms of com- 
mendation. The services rendered by his corps, as represented in 
the official reports, were the most efficient and important. When 
the action of the 8th of May commenced, Captain Montgomery was 
situated on the extreme left, Captain Duncan's battery on his right. 



58 LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 

and Lieutenant-colonel Childs with his battalion of artillery on the 
right of Captain Duncan. All these composing the 1 >t brigade, 
under command of Lieutenant-colonel Belknap, moved in this 
until the enemy opened his batteries. When the brigade 
was halted, Captain Duncan advanced with his battery about two 
hundri j -. which position he held for nearly two hours, keep- 
in::' up a most destructive fire on the enemy during the time, while 
Captain Montgomery, with his regiment, supported this flank 
amidst a galling fire from the enemy's well-aimed artillery. 

The firing ceased, and the army was ordered to advance and 
take position somewhat nearer the enemy ; the battalion of artillery 
taking post in rear and to right oi the two eighteen-pounders com- 
mand' -d b\ Lieutenant Churchill, Captain Duncan's artillery on 
their left, and Captain Montgomery with s ih infantry on the left 
and i" the rear of Duncan's battery. The enemy was now - 
be moving with the entire cavalry and infantry force of his right 
wing upon the flank of this line. Captain Duncan was ordered to 
proceed with all possible dispatch tocheck this movement, which 
I, supported by th< 8th infantry. They dashed back to the 
threatem d poinl with such alacrity and with such bold and brilliant 
manoeuvring as to strike the enemy with dismay, and he pulled up 
to a halt before a shot had been fired, or the guns unlimbered. 
They engaged within point-blank range of his small guns, and drove 
him back with great loss. 

A strong body of the enemy's infantry supported by two squad- 
fcavalrj now debouched from the extreme right poinl of the 
chaparral, and movi - rard to the attack; one section 

of the battery opened upon them with round shot and shells s 

d thai the whole advance, horse and loot, fell back in dis- 
order to the bushes. Tins column of the enemy, however, re- 
formed in the chaparral and moved forward a second lime, but 
driven bach bj the above corps with even Lire, iter su 
• first. Their supporting cavalry also abandoned them, and 
a full retreal w is commenced. The advantage was followed up 
by both sections of the battery, whi< ! i was made to bear upon the 
enemy's il\ . and a brisk and destructive fire was kepi 

up till : or darkness pul an end to the battle. 



SKETCH OF CAPT. MONTGOMERY. 59 

On the following day at about, throe o'clock P. M., the 1st bri- 
gade being within one mile of the enemy's position on Resaca de 
la Palma, Captain Montgomery received orders to move up in 
company with Duncan's battery, which he did in double quick 
time. Arriving at the scene of aetion, he charged the enemy on 
the right of the road most gallantly, and drove him from his posi- 
tion. He now hastened to follow up the charge of Captain May, 
of the 2d dragoons, who had previously carried one of the enemy's 
batteries. Captain Montgomery formed in the road and led his 
command upon the enemy's battery, which had been retaken by 
the Mexicans, and executed the movement with such celerity and 
vigor as to secure it. He now charged along the ravine between the 
enemy's two lines, amidst a heavy fire from the front, left and right, 
drove the supporting column before him for half a mile, taking the 
enemy's right and last battery, and destroying him in great num- 
bers. Captain Montgomery pursued vigorously into the chaparral 
on the opposite side of the ravine, until, from the rapid flight of the 
enemy, further pursuit was useless. 

Captain Montgomery was joined in this charge by Captain Mar- 
tin Scott, Lieutenants Ruggles and Crittenden, with a command 
of 5th infantry, as stated in our account of this engagement. 

We have thus hurriedly and briefly spoken of the events of these 
actions in which Captain Montgomery was personally concerned, 
and we confess they exhibit him and his regiment in a most favora- 
ble light. Their position was at all times during the battles one 
of imminent peril and exposure, and the loss which they sustained 
is sufficient evidence that they took a most hazardous and active 
part. The loss in killed and wounded of this regiment, on both 
days, was more than one-third the loss of the whole army. 

In the action of the 8th Captain Montgomery's horse was killed 
under him ; and in the charge of the 9th Captain Montgomery was 
wounded in the shoulder by a grape shot. 

Captain Montgomery is a native of Monmouth county, New Jer- 
sey, ?^n of James Montgomery, a revolutionary soldier. He gra- 
duated at West Point in 1825, was made captain 1838, was sta- 
tioned at Tampa Bay in 1840, and followed General Taylor to 
Corpus Christi in the Army of Occupation. 



60 LIFE OF BENERA1 TAYLOR. 



COLONEL CROSS. 



Colonel Truman Cross was a native of Maryland, and son 
of Colonel Cross of Prince George's County. He commenced 
life in humble circumstances, but by great industry and applica- 
tion, had won his way to fortune as well as distinction. He 
served man)* years under General Jackson in Florida am; 
where, and was highly esteemed by that distinguished man, than 
whom few could better judge of qualifications for an office re- 
quiring courage and activity. Under that great disciplinarian Col. 
Cross acquired a knowledge of military tactics that rendered him 
very useful to the service, and led to distinction of rank. Hi- 
name is well known in the annals of engagements with the « 
at the south. 

He was appointed assistant quartermaster-general, and had pro- 
ceeded to the Rio Grande with the army of occupation. ( >n the 
twelfth day after their encamping opposite Matamoras, he rode 
from camp in company with his little son, and none other, as is 
supposed. The boy returned, but the father did not. The alarm 
was given upon his being missed, and parties went out in every 
direction, and scoured the swamps and chaparrals for considerable 
distance round about without success, until the search was 
over, and it was generally supposed that he had been taken pris- 
oner. General Taylor wrote a letter to Ampudia, the Mexican 
commander, requesting him to aid in solving the mystery, but also 
without satisfactory result, and bis late remained in suspense tor 
fourteen days, when his lifeless body was found in a state of muti- 
lation, which left no doubt that he had been attacked and killed by 
Mexicans. 

Whereupon the following order was issued by the commanding 
general. 

•■II: ID-Ql w; I I i;~. Aiimv Of Ocqi PA1 [< '• . ' 

'•The commanding genera) has the painful duty of announcing 

that tl]> ■ winch has so 1 n n ..aid to the tale of 



SKETCH OF COLONEL CROSS. 61 

the late Colonel Cross, has at length been resolved into the melan- 
choly certainty of his death, and, there is too much reason to fear, 
by violent hands. 

" The high rank of the deceased, and the ability and energy 
which he carried into the discharge of the important duties of his 
office, will cause his loss to be seriously felt in the service, while 
the untoward circumstances of his demise will render it peculiarly 
afflicting to his family and personal friends. 

" The remains of the late colonel will be interred with military 
honors at 4 p. m. to-morrow. The funeral escort will be composed 
of a squadron of dragoons and eight companies of infantry ; the 
latter to be taken from the 2d Brigade, and the whole to be or- 
ganized and commanded by Colonel Twiggs. The necessary ar- 
rangements for the funeral ceremony will be made by Lieut. Col. 
Payne, Inspector General. 

" By order of 

" Brig. Gen. Taylor." 

The editor of Niles's National Register thus notices the death 
of this valuable and brave officer : 

" War is a horrible evil. The first victim in this new war into 
which our country is now plunged, has brought with it a deepen- 
ing sense of the evils inseparable from the mad conflict of man 
with man, be the occasion what it may. An acquaintance, formed 
in early life — a warm and steadfast friend from the commencement 
of that acquaintance — a generous, open-hearted, ardent, intelli- 
gent, and talented man ; — one who was in all the attributes a man 
among men, is the first victim. His father, forty years since, 
through many an ardent struggle, political and national, was shoul- 
der to shoulder with us, in war with arms in his hand, and in peace 
or war, with as ardent patriotism at heart as ever animated a citi- 
zen and a republican. His son is snatched from our hopes, as 
well as from a wide circle of friends, and from his own wife, now 
widowed, and left with her orphans to a life — how desolate and 
lonely ! Wreaths may encircle the brow of victors in the coming 
contest, but what shall compensate for suffering, of which this is 
but the type, that must be the price at which they are purchased ?" 



62 life or :, tavlor. 



CAPTAIN W A LK ER. 



Capi Samuel EI. Walker is a native of Prince Georse, 
and, and repaired to Texas from the city of Wash 
illy, win re he formerly lived. His fearless daring soon dis- 
tinguished him, in t he efforts of the Texans to acquire their inde- 
pendence, lie was employed in the expedition against M 
1842, luit having adventured into the .Mexican territories in ad- 
vance of the Texans he was taken prisoner with his comrade 
held during the battle of Meir. When the Texans surrendered, 
he with the rest was marched to Matamoras, and from tin i 
the castle of Perote, on their way to Mexico. The prisoners for a 
time were treated with some degree of kindness; hut as they ad- 
vanced into the country, the .Mexican officers, under whose charge 
they were, threw tiff the restraints which their article- of agreement 
imposed, and evinced towards them the most unfeeling barbarity. 

The .Mexican soldi tedly been allowed to beat them, 

;:i ! the young o >vhose conduct in this respect was widely 

different from that of their seniors in the Mexican service, treated 
them with a sei accful as it was unjust. On reaching 

Salado, stu ition by the cruelty they received, they re- 

solved to rush upon their guards and make their escape ; — among 
the privates foremost in this charge was Walh 
nal was given he seized one of the sentinels at the inner-door of 
the pris I, and Cameron, a gallant Scotchman, who wi 

terwards by order oi i sidenl shot in cold blood, seized the 

other. Both were disarmed instantly, and the Texans rushed into 
the outer court, where the arms and cartridge-boxes were guarded 
by 150 of the Mexican infantry. These v dily driven out, 

and while i T ns were arming thi . the Mexican caval- 

ry and ifantry formed in front of the outer 

The Texan- charged through them, killing nine or ten and wound- 
lOre, and them - killed and live 

ded. The Texan- ; in this affair numbered '-'I 1 — 

[exicans 300. 

The escaped Texans BOOn lost their way, became involved in 



SKETCH OF CAPTAIN WALKER. 63 

the mountains, were deceived by false information, reduced to 
the extremities of hunger and thirst, and finally recaptured by 
straggling parties. They were again taken to Salado, decimated 
by order of the commander, Santa Anna, and every tenth man shot ! 
After passing through some and escaping others of the misfor- 
tunes that attended this expedition, he finally escaped from the 
city of Mexico in company with eight others. This expedition 
originally consisted of two hundred and sixty-one men. Of these 
ten were killed at the battle of Meir, and six others subsequently 
died of wounds received there ; five fell at the attack upon the 
guard at Salado, seventeen were shot at the decimation, five died 
in the mountains, thirty-five died of suffering and starvation in 
Mexico, eleven were released through the intervention of ministers, 
eight wounded at Meir effected their escape, and the remainder, 
of whom the subject of this sketch was one, escaped from Mexico. 
Walker then joined the Texan revenue service, and was an effi- 
cient member. But when the army of occupation entered the 
country on its way to Corpus Christi and Point Isabel, he joined 
the forces at the head of a company of partisan rangers. Upon ar- 
riving at the place of destination, he was placed between Point 
Isabel and the camp opposite Matamoras, to keep open the com- 
munication between them. Learning from the teamsters who had 
started out from Point Isabel with stores for the camp, that the 
road was obstructed by the Mexicans, so that they were obliged to 
return, Captain Walker started out on the morning of the 28th 
of April, with his whole force, about seventy-five men, to recon- 
noitre, and if possible open a communication with General Taylor. 
He had proceeded about twelve miles, when he fell in with a 
large body of Mexicans, supposed to be fifteen hundred in number. 
They appeared very suddenly. A portion of Captain Walker's 
troops were raw ; these he instructed to keep on his right, and gave 
orders to the whole to retire under cover of a chaparral. But his 
raw troops, panic-stricken, scattered in confusion. An engage- 
ment, however, ensued, which lasted fifteen minutes, in which 
thirty at least of the enemy fell, as is supposed. Captain Walker 
was forced to retreat from the overwhelming force that advanced 
upon him. The enemy pursued him till within range of our guns 



64 LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 

at Point Isabel, when they in turn retreated. Captain Walker's 
loss has never been officially stated. 

Captain Walker reached the depot on the same day at night, and 
so far from being deterred by the disaster he had met with, instant- 
ly volunteered, if four men would join him, to proceed to General 
Taylors camp at the risk of his life, acquaint him with the situa- 
tion of affairs at Point Isabel, and bring back any orders he mighl 
intrust him with. A communication with General Taylor at this 
time was the more necessary, as Major Munroe for two days had 
been expecting an attack on the post of Point Isabel, which he 
commanded ; and as the transit of stores or intelligence had been 
interrupted fur three days, it was highly important that the com- 
mander should be apprized of the situation of affairs, in order that he 
mighl take any measures he might think proper in the emergency. 

Major Munroe accepted the offer of Captain Walker, and the re- 
quired number, with two additional, bravely volunteered to accompa- 
ny him. The enterprise was considered a very hazardous, almost 
fool-hardy one, but they set out on the next morning, April 29th. 
They reached Gen. Taylor's camp the next day, and were the first to 
acquaint the commander of the situation of affairs at Point Isabel ; 
and he set out the next day with his army to open communication. 

On the field of Palo Alto, as will be seen by the account of that 
battle, he took an active part in repulsing the movement of the 
Mexican cavalry on our right, in connection with the fifth infantry, 
and a section of Major Ringgold's battery under Lieutenant Ri - 
ley. Also in the engagement of Kesaca de la Palma he did valu- 
able service, for an account of which the reader is referred to the 
details of that battle. General Taylor, in his dispatch, says : " In 
this connection I would mention the services of Captain Walker, 
of the Texas rangers, who was in both affairs, with his company. 
ami who has performed very meritorious services as a spy and 
partisan." For his gallantry on the Rio Grande Walker has been 
appointed i lftain in the United States army. 

Lfter the capture of Matamoras, Captain Walker was sent out 
with a company of dragoons to observe the Mexican army on their 
retreat. In this scout he had a skirmish with the vanguard of the 
enemy, in which he killed several, and took twenty-live prisoners. 



SKETCH OF CAPTAIN MAY. 65 

CHAPTER IX. 

Captain May, and Lieutenant Ridglev. 

Captain C. A. May is an officer of intrepid valor, and in the 
engagements of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma he rendered 
valuable service to our cause, in the last of which battles he cap- 
tared La Vega, one of the Mexican generals, in almost as hazard- 
ous a position as he secured Philip, a Seminole chief, in the 
Florida war. Previous to the collision of the two armies he was 
stationed at Point Isabel, and made himself useful in reconnoitring 
the enemy, and actually passed round the Mexican camp on the 
4th with his squadron, while on the field of Palo Alto. 

General Taylor left Point Isabel with his whole army on the 7th 
May, and bivouacked seven miles distant that night. The next day, 
after proceeding about five miles, the Mexican forces appeared in 
view, in large numbers, and at one o'clock the line of battle was 
formed on the field of Palo Alto. Captain May's regiment was 
posted on the right, Captain M.'s squadron under the immediate 
orders of the general commanding, and subsequently detached to 
support Captain Duncan's battery, which had been thrown forward 
in advance of the line, and was doing good execution. We, how- 
ever, subjoin Captain May's report, which describes the part he 
took, though modestly stated, in both engagements. 

Dragoon Camp, Resaca de la Palma, ) 

On the battle-ground, May 10th, 1846. J 

" Sir, — Having been detached from the head-quarters of my 
regiment with my squadron, and acting under the immediate orders 
of the commanding-general during the actions of the 8th and 9th 
instant, it becomes my duty to report the services which the squad- 
ron I had the honor to command rendered during tiiese actions. 

" You are aware that my first orders on the 8th were to strengthen 
the left flank of the army and sustain Captain Duncan's battery ; 
in this position I lost two horses killed and two wounded. 

" About half an hour before sunset I received orders to proceed 

9 



6G LIFE OF GENERAL T.vYLOR 

to the enemy's left flank and drive in his cavalry. In execution 
of these orders, and while pass G teral and his staff, the 

enemy concentrated the fire from their battel. - as, killing six 

of my horses and wounding live men. I succeeded in gaining 

-non on the enemy's left with a view of charging his cavalry, 
but found him in such force as to render ineffectual a charge from 
my small command, and therefore returned, in obedience to my in- 
structions, to my first position, where I remained until the close of 
the action, which terminated very shortly afterwards. Thus ended 
the service of mv squadron on the bth. 

" On the morning of the 9th my squadron was actively employed 
in reconnoitring the chaparral in advance of the field of the 8th, 
and on the advance of the army I took my position as the advance- 
guard. When about half a mile from the position which the ene- 
my were reported to have taken, I was ordered to halt and allow 
the artillery and infantry to pass, and await further orders. I re- 
mained in this position about three quarters of an hour, when I re- 
ceived orders to report with my squadron to the General. I did so, 
and was ordered by the General to charge the enemy's batteries 
and drive them from their pieces, which was rapidly executed, with 
loss of Lieutenant Inge, seven privates, and eighteen horses killed, 
and Sergeant Muley, nine private-, and ten horses wounded. Lieu- 
tenant Sackett and Sergeant Story, in the front by my side, had 
their horses killed under them, and Lieutenant fage was gallantly 
leading his platoon when he fell. We charged entirely through the 
enemy's batteries of seven pieces— Captain Graham, accompanied 
by Lieutenants Winship and Pleasanton, leading the charge against 
the pieces on the left of the road, and myself, accompanied by 
Lieutenants Inge, S ind S ckett, those on the direct road, 

and gained the rising ground on the opposite side of the ravine. 
The charge was made under a heavy fire of the enemy's batteries, 
which accounts for my great loss. After gaining the rising ground 
in the rear I could rally but si\ men, and with these I charged 
their gunner-, who had regained their pieces, drove them off, and 
took prisoner General Vega, whom 1 found gallantly fighting in 
person at his battery. I ordered him to surrender, and on recog- 
nising mc as an officer, he handed me his -word. I brought him, 



SKETCH OF CAPTAIN MAY. 67 

under a heavy fire of their infantry, to our lines, accompanied by 
Lieutenant Stevens and a sergeant of my squadron. I then direct- 
ed Lieutenant Stevens to conduct him in safety to our rear, and 
present his sword to the commanding general. 

" From this time until the enemy were routed, I was engaged in 
collecting my men, who had become scattered in our lines. I suc- 
ceeded in assembling half of my squadron, and joined the army in 
pursuit of the enemy, until he crossed the Rio Grande, from which 
I returned to camp. 

" I cannot speak in terms of sufficient praise of the steadiness 
and gallantry of the officers and men of my command. They all 
behaved with that spirit of courage and noble daring which distin- 
guished the whole army in this memorable action, and achieved the 
most brilliant victory of the age. 

" I have the honor to be, &c. 

" C. A. May, 

" Captain 2d Dragoons, commanding 2d squadron. 
" Lieutenant McDonald, Adjutant 2d Dragoons." 

For the personal history of Captain May we have scanty mate- 
rial. He is a native of the city of Washington, son of Dr. May of 
that place. " On organizing the second regiment of dragoons, 
during General Jackson's administration, he was among those who, 
from civil life, received a commission as lieutenant in the corps, 
and was ordered to Florida, where the regiment was subjected to 
severe active service against the Seminoles, and the lieutenant was 
intrusted with many responsible duties. One of those led him into 
a personal rencontre with the celebrated chief of the tribe, Philip, 
whose camp a charge was made upon, and who was knocked down 
and secured by Lieutenant May, at the moment he was raising his 
rifle to shoot the daring young officer." 

An anecdote is related, for the occurrence of which we cannot 
vouch : On the 9th, when the charge was about to be made on the 
Mexican battery, General Taylor, in passing his lines, accosted 
Captain May. 

" Sir," said he, " your command has done nothing yet. You 
must take that battery." 



68 LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 

li Men," said Captain .May, " we must take that battery ! 
Charge !" 

The result is known. He was mounted on his favorite charger, 
" Tom," the same on which he made the charge upon Philip's 
camp, and who now received a severe wound. The second dra- 
goons at the charge comprised seventy men and officers, of whom 
nine were killed and eleven wounded ; and of the horses, twenty- 
six were killed and ten wounded. 

Having made the charge, they rode over the battery, wheeled 
and came through the enemy's lines, while the fire of the infantry 
was so deadly in its effect as to carry all before it. Captain May 
made a cut at an officer as he charged through, and on returning 
he found him standing between the cannon wheels, fighting like a 
hero. He ordered him to surrender. He inquired if he was an 
officer. Captain May answered him in the affirmative, when he 
presented his sword, saying, " You receive (General Vega a pris- 
oner of war." 

Captain May is represented as presenting a very whimsical and 
eccentric appearance — "with a beard extending to his breast, and 
hair to his shoulders, which, as he cuts through the wind on his 
charger, streams out in all directions. His gait on foot is awkward, 
and that of his horse (an immense one) is the rack of a Canadian 
pony." 



LIEl'TKN W'T RIDGLEY. 

Randolph Ridoley is a Marylander, and son of General 
Charles Stcrret Ridgley, of Elkridge, Anne Arundel county, Ma- 
ryland. He belongs to the third artillery, and in the battle of the 
9lh May did mosl valuable service with Ins light-artillery batter}', 
commanded, before he fell, by Major Ringgold. The manner in 
which he took his battery into action on the commencement of 
that battle, and the skill and bravery with which he managed it, 
raised him high in the estimation of the army. 

At the commencement of the action on the 8th, after having ad- 
vanced to within six hundred yards of the enemy's lines, and open- 



SKETCH OF LIEUT. RIDGLEY. 69 

ing his battery with dreadful execution, Lieutenant Ridgley was 
detached from Major Ringgold with a section, consisting of two 
pieces, to operate with the fifth infantry, which had been sent for- 
ward to oppose a flank movement of the enemy making on the 
right of our army. He had already lost one man and two horses. 
Upon taking his position on the right of the fifth, who were in 
square, he at once unlimbered and commenced firing. The effect 
of his fire was tremendous, and he very shortly saw the enemy's 
artillery and cavalry, which was in large force, particularly the lat- 
ter, retiring. His fire proved effective in frustrating this grand 
movement of the enemy. Brevet second-lieutenant French had 
die immediate charge of one of the pieces. Lieutenant Ridgley 
continued changing his position from point to point until dark, 
when he encamped, and then learned the melancholy intelligence 
that Major Ringgold had been mortally wounded. 

The engagement of the 9th on the field of Resaca de la Palma 
was opened upon our side by Lieutenant Ridgley's battery. He 
was ordered to the front with his battery, and Captain Walker with 
his rangers was sent to point out the exact position. After moving 
very cautiously for a short distance, Lieutenant Ridgley discovered 
the Mexicans about four hundred yards in advance in the road, and 
almost instantly their artillery opened. He then moved rapidly to 
the front for about one hundred yards and returned their fire, which 
was kept up very spiritedly on both sides for some time, the two 
batteries firing canister and grape at each other when not more 
than one hundred yards apart. 

As soon as the enemy's fire slackened, Lieutenant Ridgley lim- 
bered up and moved rapidly forward, never unlimbering unless 
seeing them in front, or perceiving from the fire of their infantry 
they were on his flanks. After having advanced in this manner 
about five hundred yards, Captain May, second dragoons, rode up, 
and said to Lieutenant Ridgley, " Where are they ? I am going 
to charge." Lieutenant Ridgley gave them a volley to point the 
way, and Captain May dashed gallantly forward, in columns of 
fours, at the head of his squadron. Lieutenant Ridgley followed 
quickly at a gallop, only halting when he came upon the edge of a 
ravine, where he found three pieces of artillery, but no cannoniers ; 



70 LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 

however, their infantry poured into him a galling fire at from 
twenty-five to fifty paces ; and here ensued a most desperate 
struggle, but our infantry coming up they were completely routed. 
Their cavalry came so near that at one time Lieutenant Ridgley 
cut at them with his sabre. 

On the occasion we have just related, Lieutenant R - com- 

pany was the only artillery used, but were sadly deficient in men, 
so that the officers, during the greater portion of the engagement, 
and always when closely pressed, had to perform the duties of not 
only one but two cannoniers, handling their own shot and firing 
their own pieces. 

For his gallantry in these engagements the citizens of Howard 
District, Maryland, forwarded to Lieutenant Ridgley an elegant 
sword. He has also been appointed assistant adjutant-general, 
with brevet rank of captain. 



LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 71 



CHAPTER X. 



Movement of the Army of Occupation from Corpus Christi. — All matters connected 
with the Campaign to the time of the enemy's crossing. 

In September General Taylor established his head-quarters at 
Corpus Christi. But this was intended as a temporary rendezvous, 
as the position is far in the rear of the legitimate boundary of 
Texas, but a permanent depot was calculated upon as advantage- 
ous and secure, as its distance from the Rio Grande was a security 
against surprise by any hostile movement of the Mexicans, while 
its location on the sea-shore furnished the best facilities for the dis- 
embarking of troops and landing munitions of war. 

Remaining here nearly six months, during which time some 
regiments of regular troops were received, General Taylor sent 
scouts forward to the Rio Grande to make discovery of a suitable 
position for encamping the army permanently. These scouts re- 
turned in the latter part of February, and reported favorably with 
regard to Point Isabel as a place for a general depot. 

In the fore part of March, the army began to move from Corpus 
Christi for the Rio Grande, and on the 8th of this month General 
Taylor issued his proclamation and orders concerning his evacua- 
tion of the present encampment. The distance to be accomplished 
was one hundred and nineteen miles, which, owing to the swampy 
stale of the country, was a task of considerable hardship, at a sea- 
son of the year too when the alluvial soil was completely saturated 
with water. Two reconnoitring detachments, commanded by Cap- 
tain Hardee and Lieutenant Hamilton, preceded the movement. 
They approached the Rio Grande opposite Brazos Santiago, via 
Isla del Padre, the other by the old Matamoras road, near Sal 
Colorado. 

General Mejia, in command at Matamoras, on hearing of then- 
approach, mustered every soldier there, and crossed the Rio Grande 
in person, under the impression that he should meet the advance 
of the army. He marched as far as the Colorado creek, with all 



LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 

possible dispatch, having under his command about seven hundred 
and fifty men, when, now sixty or seventy miles from Matamoras, 

lie learned these detachments had returned to the camp at Corpus 
( iristi. His rage may be imagined, and is described in a letter 
from Matamoras as excessive, and beyond bounds, he having i \- 
ted to win a wreath of laurels before his return. The Mexi- 
can force at this time on the frontier was about two thousand sol- 
diers and five hundred rancheros ; under General- I s, Mejia, 
Garcia, Saveriego, and La Vega. General Garcia was stationed 
at Point Isabel, with about two hundred and eighty men, mostly 
infantry and artillery. 

I fi i ral Taylor advanced ahead of his army, with a company oi 
dragoons under Colonel Twiggs, and reached Point Isabel on the 
24th of March, the fleet of transports arriving at the same time. 
[g iel is a bluff or promontory of sixty feet elevation, on the north 
side of the Rio Grande, a lew miles below tin- Mexican city of 
Matamoras, which is situated upon the southern side of that river. 
When near Point Isabel with the dragoons. General Taj 
met by thirty or forty men, bearing a proclamation and : ss 
from General Mejia, protesting against invasion, and gasconaelinif 
of defence. At the same moment, the conflagration of the custom- 
house, and several buildings at Point Isabel, which Rodriguez, the 
commandant, had set fire to on the approach of the tleet of trans- 
ports, was discovered. General Taylor dismissed the deputation, 
informing them that he would reply to General Mejia in four d 
opposite to Matamoras. Rodriguez was pursued some distal 
but made good Ins relivat to the river. 

< >n the 26lh, General Taylor sel out from Point Isabel, leaving 
company of artillerj under command of Major Munroe, and 
proceeded for the army opposite Matamoras. a distance of twenty- 
eight miles, arriving the next day. On the 28lh March, the fon 5, 
numbering about three thousand five hundred, encamped, while the 
Mexicans were drawn up upon the opposite bank of the stream. 
making a greal display of martial music, trumpets, flags, etc., which 
music was responded to from the American lines, so as to be distinctly 
heard, for the distance was not above two hundred and fifty van - 

On the nexl morn] \ rican troops discovered the Mexi- 



GENERAL EVENTS. 73 

can artillery of eighteen-pounders lining the opposite bank, and 
pointing directly into their camp. Of this battery, General Taylor 
took no notice. 

Matters remained thus for several days, the Mexicans manifest- 
ing great anger, but no open assault. Upon one. occasion, General 
Worth crossed the river with a dispatch from General Taylor, but 
they would not permit him to enter the town, nor would General 
Mejia receive him, but sent one of his officers, with the message 
that he would not receive personally any officer but the command- 
ing-general himself. General Worth did not deliver the dispatch. 
In this interview General Worth made General de la Vega the 
following terse reply : " It is an easy matter for Mexico to deter- 
mine when and where the war shall commence, but it would re- 
main for the United States to determine when and where it should 
terminate." 

On the 11th of April General Ampudia marched into Matamoras 
with one thousand cavalry and fifteen hundred infantry ; and on 
the next day he notified General Taylor to break up his camp 
within twenty-four hours, and retire to the eastern bank of the 
Nueces. This notification was of a threatening character, and was 
regarded by General Taylor as of a belligerent nature. He ac- 
cordingly instructed the military commander at the Brazos to con- 
sider the Mexican army as in a hostile attitude. Two Mexican 
vessels from New Orleans were daily expected to arrive with stores 
and supplies for the troops at Matamoras, and General Taylor or- 
dered the commander at Brazos to seize them when they reached 
that place. 

To the notification of General Ampudia, General Taylor replied, 
that he had been instructed by the President of the United States 
to occupy the territory east of the Rio Grande. He came there, 
he said, without any hostile intention, either towards the govern- 
ment or the people of Mexico, but any attempt to dislodge him would 
be repelled by force ; and furthermore, that if General Ampudia 
attempted to cross the river, it would be considered a hostile act, 
and resisted as such. 

The greater portion of the inhabitants upon the east side of the 
river, crossed over to Matamoras, from the representations made 

10 



74 LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 

by the Mexican officers that the American army would inevitaoly 
be destroyed, and that they would share the same fate, but this did 
not prevent the army being abundantly supplied with provisions, 
for there were facilities of procuring them when they were not 
furnished from the other side. 

'J 'he American army experienced considerable annoyance from 
the great number of desertions that took place, and so short was 
the distance to the enemy's camp, that they could effect their inten- 
tions with great ease and safety, and escape beyond tin- possibility 
of capture. The most frequent mode was by swimming the stream. 
S reral attempts had been made to put a stop to this busin - 
without effect, when it was resolved to resort to the last and dis- 
agreeable alternative of shooting such as should attempt to escape, 
if other means failed. Among those that next made the attempt to 
swim the river, two were killed by the picket, and this effectually 
put a stop to desertions. 

General Taylor set about erecting ramparts and trausses, em- 
ploying fifteen hundred men constantly, to render his position se- 
cure against an attacking force. One regimenl was also kept day 
and night on the move, guarding the crossings of the river, from 
indications, it appearing evident that the Mexicans entertained the 
idea of commencing hostilities in some shape. On the 12th a pri- 
soner was taken by the picket, who stated upon questioning, that 
the Mexicans were going to cross the river at a certain point on the 
next day. General Taylor sent a detachment of troops to the 
fording early the next morning. 

About this time the camp was thrown into consternation and 
gloom at the sudden disappearance of ( lolonel Cross, United Si 
quartermaster-general. Troops were sent out at once, and all ex- 
ertions made io ascertain Ins fate; but, until twelve days had ex- 
pired, ii was generally presumed that he had been taken prisom r 
and was in safety. At the end of thai period, he was iouiul where 

ho had been murdered, probably by a hand of rancheros. This 
was the first life lost in the Army of Occupation, and was -own 

followed by the attack upon and killing of Lieutenant Porter ami 
three others. Lieutenant Porter had gone with a party of twelve 
men to reconnoitre, when, on the third day, he was attacked by a 



MEASURES OF DEFENCE. 75 

party of Mexicans, fired upon and killed. On the next morn- 
ing, a troop of thirty dragoons was dispatched to the spot, but his 
body, or those of his comrades, two in number, could not be found. 
Lieutenant Porter was of the 3d regiment of infantry, son of the 
late Commodore Porter, and had but recently been married to a 
daughter of Major Benjamin Lloyd Beall, late commander of Fort 
Washita, where he had left his lady. 

The following extract of a letter from General Taylor explains 
the state 'of his defences and the position of affairs on the 25th 
April, prior to the attack of the Mexicans upon Captains Hardee 
and Thornton : 

" Strong guards of foot and mounted men are established on the 
margin of the river, and thus efficient means have been adopted on 
our part to prevent all intercourse. While opposite to us their 
pickets extend above and below for several miles, we are equally 
active in keeping up a strong and vigilant guard to prevent surprise, 
or attacks under disadvantageous circumstances. This is the more 
necessary, while we are to act on the defensive, and they are at 
liberty to take the opposite course whenever they think proper to 
do so. Nor have we been idle in other respects ; we have a field- 
work under way, besides having erected a strong battery, and a 
number of buildings for the security of our supplies, in addition to 
some respectable works for their protection. We have mounted a 
respectable battery, four pieces of which are long eighteen-pound- 
ers, with which we could batter or burn down the city of Mata- 
moras should it become necessary to do so. When our field-work 
is completed — which will soon be the case — and mounted with its 
proper armament, five hundred men could hold it against as many 
thousand Mexicans. During the twenty-seven days since our arri- 
val here, a most singular state of things has prevailed all through 
the outlines of the two armies, which, to a certain extent, have all 
the feelings as if there were actual war. 

" Fronting each other, for an extent of more than two miles, and 
within musket range, are batteries shotted, and the officers and 
men, in many instances, waiting impatiently for orders to apply the 
matches ; yet nothing has been done to provoke the firing of a gun 
or any act of violence. 



76 LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 

" Matamoras, at ihc distance we are now from it, appears to cover 
a large extent of ground, with some handsome buildings, but I 
would imagine the greater portion of them to be indifferent one- 
houses, with roofs of straw, and walls of mud or unburnt 
brick. During peace the population is said to be five or six thou- 
sand, but it is now filled to overflowing with troops. Report says 
from five to ten thousand of all sorts, regular and militia. The 
number, I presume, is very much overrated. 

" P. 8. — Since writing the above an engagement has taken place 
between a detachment of our cavalry and the Mexicans, in which 
we are worsted. So the war has actually commenced, and the 
hardest must fend off. 

"Yours, 6ic. 

" Z. Taylor." 



GENERAL EVENTS. 77 



CHAPTER XI. 

Captain Thornton's Expedition.— Principal Events to the leaving of General Taylor 
for Point Isabel. — Bombardment of Fort Brown. 

In the last chapter we made allusion to intelligence being re- 
ceived, through a prisoner, that the Mexicans were about to cross 
the Rio Grande, and that a squadron of dragoons was ordered to 
proceed to the spot. The prisoner was to act as guide. On the 
same day General Taylor's spies brought in news that a large body 
of Mexicans had crossed the river to the Texas side, above the 
American fort, and that about fifteen hundred had also crossed be- 
low. The squadron of dragoons under the guidance of the Mexi- 
can prisoner was commanded by Captain Thornton, and sent to the 
crossing above the camp, while Captain Kerr was dispatched with 
a squadron below ; both for the purpose of reconnoitring the ene- 
my's position. 

Captain Thornton's command consisted of Captain Hardee, 
Lieutenants Kane and Mason, with sixty-one privates and non- 
commissioned officers. They had proceeded about twenty-six 
miles, and to within a mile or two of the Mexican camp, when they 
were surprised and surrounded by a large body of the enemy, who 
commenced firing upon them. Lieutenant George Mason, with 
nine men, were killed, and two wounded. Captains Thornton and 
Hardee, and Lieutenant Kane, escaped, and subsequently surren- 
dered themselves with the non-commissioned officers and privates 
prisoners of war. 

It was now certain that the Mexicans had crossed the Rio Grande 
in large numbers, and for the purpose of ejecting the American 
army from the position it had assumed. General Taylor, therefore, 
immediately subsequent to the attack upon Thornton's command, 
advised the department at Washington that hostilities had com- 
menced, and dispatched a messenger with requisitions upon the 
governors of Texas and Louisiana for volunteers — upon the former 
for twenty companies of foot riflemen, and upon the latter for four 
regiments of infantry. 



LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 

Crista had superseded Ampudia in the command of the 
Mexican forces, and it was upon this change that the first act of 
violation was committed by them ; he haying previously, however 
notified General Taylor that he " considered hostilities had com- 
menced, and he should prosecute them." 

From the capture of Thornton's command all communication 
.'. is 'lit off from Point Isabel with General Taylor's camp for three 
This was a most serious misfortune, as the entire stores of 
the army, with the exception of eight days' rations at the camp, op 
posite Matamoras, were at this place, and the prospect of re- 
lishing a communication was most discouraging, so large a body oi 
-. under Arista himself, had been interposed with 
ial object in view, as was probable, (and which after- 
wards appeared by Arista's dispatches.) 

Point Isabel was also daily in expectation of being attacked. 
Major Munroe commanded here with a force of four hundred and 
fifty men. The ordnance consisted of sixteen brass six-pounders, 
two long eighteen, and two ship's guns for artillery. The supply 
of powder and balls of all kinds was ample, and provisions and 
in abundance, so that it was calculated an opposing force of 
four times their number could be successfully resisted for any 
length of time. In addition, the masters and crews oi vessels in 
the harbor volunteered, and mustered to the number of five hun- 
dred men, went ashore, and remained under arms.. 

On the 28th, Captain Walker, of the Texan rangers volunl 
left his camp between Point Isabel and Matamoras with seventy- 
live men, to reconnoitre, having learned a ! ■ _ Mi \ican fon 
on the road. II untered one thousand five hundred Mo\i- 

cans, (as he supposes,) with whom he had an engagement oi fif- 
teen minute-. * »n In- return to Point Isaliel he volunteered with 

almost incredible boldness to attempt to carry a communication to 
General Taylor; and on the 29th be set oul with four men, and 
succeeded in reaching the camp oi the commanding general. 

i , . T . '• situation at this time was a critical one. His 
supply of provisions in camp was sntlicient for only eight days his 
Stores and munitions were at Point Isabel, twenty-seven miles dis- 
tant, and all communication, between the camp and depot, he had 



DEFENCE OF FORT BROWN. 79 

good reason to believe, had been closed by the enemy. Upon the 
arrival of Captain Walker, therefore, and learning the state of af- 
fairs on the route, he resolved to set out in person, with the greater 
part of his force, and endeavor to effect a transit of supplies. He 
had nearly completed his defences opposite Matamoras. The cita- 
del of the position, an irregular hexagon, with bastioned fronts, and 
a capacity to receive twelve hundred men, though it might be de- 
fended with five hundred, he considered sufficient to sustain a 
regular assault for at least ten days from disciplined troops and 
scientific approach from trenches. Intrusting the works to the 
command of Major Brown, with the seventh regiment of infantry 
under Captain Lowd, and two companies of artillery under Lieu- 
tenant Braggs, in all about, six hundred men, General Taylor set 
out with the remainder of his force, on the 1st day of May, for 
Point Isabel. 

So soon as the Mexican commander learned that a large part of 
the American forces had been withdrawn from the fort opposite 
Matamoras, (now Fort Brown,) he opened his batteries in the town 
with seven guns. This was on the morning of the 3d May. The 
fire was promptly responded to by the American battery. After 
a brisk fire of fifteen minutes from the eighteen-pounders, the 
Mexican fort was silenced, two of their guns supposed to have 
been dismounted. 

A fire was then commenced from the Mexican lower fort, and a 
mortar battery, which was kept up without intermission until half- 
past seven o'clock. The cannonade from these positions was con- 
tinued occasionally until midnight, during which time the Mexi- 
cans exhausted some twelve or fifteen hundred shot, but with very 
little effect. 

On the morning of the 6th May, Major Brown, the commanding 
officer, was mortally wounded by the bursting of a shell, while 
standing near Captain Mansfield, directing the operations of that 
corps of engineers. 

Upon Major Brown receiving the wound that terminated fatally, 
three days afterwards, Captain Hawkins, of the seventh infantry, 
assumed command. This took place at 10 o'clock on the morning 
of the 6th, and large mounted parties of infantry were then seen in 



&0 LIFE OF GENERAL T.W 

the rear. Towards evening the enemy opened fire from town 
with one mortar, and with two mortars from the rear ; and at half- 
; 31 10 o'clock, some infantry crept up in a ravine and fired mus- 
ketry, but being out of range, the fire was not returned. Lieuten- 
ant Bragg, at 10 o'clock the next morning, fired several rounds of 
canister from his battery upon parties of mounted men and infantry 
that seemed to surround the rear, which dispersed them, but 
brought forth a shower of shells, which lasted incessantly until 
half-past 11 o'clock, and ceased. Between this and half-past 4 
P. M., five shells were thrown, at which time a white flag was 
shown at some old buildings in the rear, and a parley sounded by 
the enemy. Two Mexican officers advanced, and were met by 
two of Captain Hawkins' command, who received and took to 
Captain Hawkins a communication from General Arista, com- 
manding Hawkins to surrender the fort, and allowing one hour to 

Upon the receipt of this document, the commander of Fort 
Brown called a council of his officers, having command of the dif- 
ferent companies, and upon consultation agreed unanimously upon 
sending the following reply : 

Id \i> Qcarters, United States Fori I 
i Matamoras, May t>. L846, •') o'clock, p.m. * 

"Sir, — Your humane communication has just been received. 
and after the consideration due to its importance, I must respect- 
fully decline to surrender my tones to you. 

"The exact purport of your dispatch I cannot feel confident that 
I understand, as my interpreter is not skilled in your language; 
but if I have und< tly, you have my reply above. 

" 1 am, sir, respectfully, 

" Your obedient servant, 

•■ E. S. Hawkins, 
" Commanding U. S. Forces opjiosite Mataruoras. 
" General M. Arista, 
i« Commanding Division of the North." 

When this reply was received by the .Mexican general, he opened 
his batteries with a continual shower of shot and shells until sunset, 



BOMBARDMENT OF FORT BROWN. 81 

when it, ceased.' The night passed quietly, but the utmost vigi- 
lance was exercised by the American commander, and every man 
was kept at his post, as it was confidently expected that an attack 
more severe than the others would be made in the morning. At 
daylight the next morning the enemy's batteries opened with shells, 
but continued but a short time, and was renewed at intervals, with 
canister and grape, until half-past two o'clock, p. m., when a regu- 
lar bombardment with shot and shells, from a howitzer and the 
mortars, commenced, and was kept up until sunset. 

Dark setting in, Captain Mansfield, of the Engineer Corps, was 
sent out with one hundred men to level the traverse thrown up by 
General Worth on the bank of the river, to prevent the use of it 
by the enemy to fire into the fort, which he accomplished by mid- 
night, at which time a random fire of musketry commenced all 
around, which lasted until daylight, when the enemy's batteries 
were again opened with shells from the sand-bag battery and from 
the lower fort. 

The bombarding was kept up during the day with great ferocity, 
some part of the time mortars being at play upon the little fort 
from the north, south, and west, at the same instant. This was 
the 8th of May, and at half-past two o'clock the cannonading from 
the field of Palo Alto was heard. This created an intense excite- 
ment *in the fort, as it was supposed to proceed from an engage- 
ment between the Mexican and American forces, and the most 
alarming results were feared, from the known superiority of the 
enemy's forces. 

During this day Captain Hawkins is of opinion they received 
.from one hundred and fifty to two hundred shells, and from sev- 
enty-five to one hundred round shot, and not a man was disabled. 
The next day, at 2 o'clock p. m., Major Brown died, and soon after 
the firing was heard from Resaca de la Palma, which announced a 
re-engagement between General Taylor and the enemy. The 
enemy raised the siege at about six o'clock this day, and beat a 
retreat. 

11 



62 LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 

CHAPTER XII. 

Battle of Palo Alto. 

General Taylor reached Point Isabel on the 2d of May, with- 
out having seen a Mexican on his way. On the day following, lie 
heard the cannonading, by the assault on Fort Brown, with some 
concern, but no scouts reported any intelligence of importance 
until the 4th, when Captain .May. with a squadron of dragoons re- 
turned to Point Isabel, with reports that a heavy force was en- 
camped on the road, twelve miles below Matamoras, whose camp 
he passed around ; and this intelligence was continued the next 
day, the 5th, by scouts that came in, saying that the chaparral was 
lined with sentinels everywhere. 

The firing was still heard at the fort, and General Taylor made 
dispositions to commence his return march on the next day, the 
6th, with an ample train, of baggage-wagons, loaded with stores 
for the army. Whether the Mexican commander had concentrated 
his forces so as to assail ihe camp opposite Matamoras in rear as 
well as in front, during the absence of the army — whether the 
works w r ere found capable of sustaining the assault that had been 
made — or whether the great body of Mexicans would take advan- 
tage of the defiles and chaparrals upon the route he was about 
himself to enter, with so cumbrous a tram of baggage, was matter 
of total uncertainty. 

May 6th, Captain Walker arrived with dispatches from Major 
Brown's camp, and reported the particul i lasl chapter. 

M jor Brown was reserving his ammunition, and thus tar all was 
there. These assurances of Captain Walker determined 
General Taylor to postpone Ins departure, in hopes thai additional 
forces would arrive within a slant time at Point Isabel, for the se- 
curity of that important Btation, as well as to augmenl the effec- 
tive force with which he would soon be ready to encounter the 

enemy. 

Nothing further of importance took place until the evening of 

the ?lh of Mav, when the main body of the army of occupation 



BATTLE OF PALO ALTO. 83 

moved from Point Isabel, under the immediate orders of General 
Taylor, and bivouacked seven miles distant. 

The march was resumed the following morning. About noon, 
when the advance of cavalry had reached the water-hole of "Palo 
Alto," the Mexican troops were reported in front, and were soon 
discovered occupying the road in force. General Taylor ordered 
a halt upon reaching the water, with a view to rest and refresh the 
men, and form deliberately the line of battle. The Mexican line 
was now plainly visible across the prairie, and about three-quarters 
of a mile distant. Their left, which was composed of a heavy 
force of cavalry, occupied the road, resting upon a thicket of chap- 
arral, while masses of infantry were discovered in succession on 
the right, greatly outnumbering the American force. 

The line of battle was now formed in the following order, com- 
mencing on the extreme right : Fifth infantry, commanded by 
Lieutenant-colonel Mcintosh ; Major Ringgold's artillery ; third 
infantry, commanded by Captain L. N. Morris ; two eighteen- 
pounders, commanded by Lieutenant Churchill, third artillery ; 
fourth infantry, commanded by Major G. W. Allen ; the third and 
fourth regiments composed the third brigade, under the command 
of Lieutenant-colonel Garland ; and all the above corps, together 
with two squadrons of dragoons under Captains Ker and May, 
composed the right wing, under the orders of Colonel Twiggs. 
The left was formed by the battalion of artillery commanded by 
Lieutenant-colonel Childs, Captain Duncan's light artillery, and 
the eighth infantry, under Captain Montgomery — all forming the 
first brigade, under command of Lieutenant-colonel Belknap. 
The train was packed near the water, under direction of Captains 
Grossman and Myers, and protected by Captain Ker's squadron. 

At two o'clock General Taylor took up the march by heads of 
columns, in the direction of the enemy — the eighteen-pounder bat- 
tery following the road. While the columns were advancing Lieut. 
Blake, topographical engineers, volunteered a reconnoissance of the 
enemy's line, which was handsomely performed, and resulted in the 
discovery of at least two batteries of artillery in the intervals of their 
cavalry and infantry. These batteries were soon opened upon the 
Americans ; when Gen. Taylor ordered the columns halted and de- 



B4 LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 

ployed into line, and the lire to be returned by all his artillery. The 

eighth infantry on the extreme left was thrown hack to secure that 

The first fires of the enemy did litt! a, while our 

eighteen-pounders, and .Major Ringgold's artillerj - >6n dispersed 

i avalry, while his left, Captain Duncan's battery, thrown for- 
ward in advance of the line, was doing good execution at this time. 
Captain May's squadron was now detached to support that battery, 
and the left of our position. The Mexican cavalry, with two pieces 
of artillery, were now reported to be moving through the chaparral 
to our right, to threaten that flank, or make a demonstration against 
the train. The fifth infantry was immediately detached to check 
this movement, and, supported by Lieut. Ridgley, with a section ol 
Major Ringgold's battery and Captain Walkers company of volun- 
teers, effectually repulsed the enemy— the fifth infantry repelling a 
charge of lancers, and the artillery doing great execution in their 
ranks. The third infantry was now detached to the right as a still 
further security to that flank yet threatened by the enemy. Major 
Ringgold, witli the remaining section, kept up his fire from an ad- 
vanced position and was supported by the fourth infantry. 

The grass of the prairie had been accidentally fired by our artil- 
lery, and the volumes of smoke now partially < one.;;!,.! the armies 
from each other. As the enemy's left had evidently been driven 
back, and left the road free, as the cannonade had been suspended. 
the American General ordered forward the eighteen-pounders 
the road, nearly to the position first occupied by the Mexican i 

. and causi .1 the first brigade to take up a new position still on 
the Left ■ I [hteen-pounder battery. The fifth infantry was ad- 

vanced from its former position, and occupied a point on the 
treme right of the new hue. The enemy made a change oi position 
corresponding to our own, and after a suspension o( nearly an hour 
the action was resumed. 

T. lire of the artillery was now most destructive — openings 
instantly made through the enemy's ranks b\ our lire : and 
the constancy with which the Ml lican infantry sustained tins 

■ cannonadi was a theme of univi real remark and admiration, 
-tain May's squadron was detached to make a demonstration on 

the left of the enemy's position, ana Buffered severely from the lire 



BATTLE OF PALO ALTO. 85 

of artillery to which it was for some time exposed. The fourth 
infantry, which had been ordered to support the eighteen-pounder 
battery, was exposed to a most galling fire of artillery, by which 
several men were killed, and Captain Page dangerously wounded. 
The enemy's fire was directed against our 18-pounder battery, 
and the guns under Major Ringgold in its vicinity. The major 
himself, while coolly directing the fire of his pieces, was struck 
by a cannon ball, and mortally wounded. 

In the mean time the battalion of artillery under Lieutenant- 
colonel Childs had been brought up to support the artillery on our 
right. A strong demonstration of cavalry was now made by the 
enemy against this part of our line, and the column continued to 
advance under a severe fire from the eighteen-pounders. The bat- 
talion was instantly formed in square, and held ready to receive 
the charge of cavalry ; but when the advanced squadrons were 
within close range, a deadly fire of canister from the eighteen- 
pounders dispersed them. A brisk fire of small arms was now 
opened upon the square, by which Lieutenant Luther of second 
artillery w T as slightly wounded ; but a well-directed volley from 
the front of the square silenced all further firing from the enemy 
in this quarter. It was now nearly dark, and the action was closed 
on the right of the American line ; the enemy having been com- 
pletely driven back from his position, and foiled in every attempt 
against our line. 

While the above was going forward on our right, the enemy had 
made a serious attempt against the left of our line. Captain Dun- 
can, with his usual quickness of perception, discovered and com- 
municated to Lieutenant Belknap, commanding the brigade, the 
fact that the enemy was moving the entire cavalry and infantry 
force of his right wing upon our train in rear of the left of our line 
of battle, and that his battery could produce a more destructive 
effect upon the enemy by taking position further to the left. He 
was ordered to proceed to the threatened point with all possible 
dispatch, and hold the enemy in check until the eighth infantry 
could come up to his support. The battery dashed back to the 
left flank in full view of the enemy, and engaged him within point- 
blank range of his small guns. So sudden and unexpected was 



v ii LIFE OP GENERAL T.W 

this movement to the enemy, who a mon ire saw this bat- 

tery disappear in the opposite direction behind the smoke of the 
burning prairie, thai bis whole column of cavalry pulled up t 
halt before a shot had been fired or the guns unlimbered. 

\ -irongbody of the enemy's infantry, supported by two squad- 
rons of cavalry, now debouched from the extreme right point of 
the chaparral, and moved steadily forward to the attack ; < sec- 
tion of the battery opened upon them with round shot, shells, and 
spherical case, so well directed that the whole advance, horse and 
foot, fell back in disorder to the bushes ; the other section in the 
mean lime played into the masses of cavalry that had halted at the 
right of the guns before mentioned. Although these shot were 
well directed, and each made an opening through an entire squad- 
ron, this part of the enemy's line stood unshaken. 

The column of cavalry and infantry driven back in the chaparral 
by the other section, reformed there, and moved forward a second 
time to the attack with great rcgularitv. After ti. 
about one hundred yards from the chaparral, the section before or- 
dered to drive them back a ned, and drove them with even 
greater success than before. They fell back pell-mell to the bushes 
and commenced their retreat; their supporting cavalry abandoned 
them, rushed back upon the head of the columns that had before 
withstood our shot, and a flight commenced ; squadron after squad- 
ron took it up, and the entire right wing of the enemy was in full 
retreat. Both sections were now brought to bear upon the enemy's 
broken and flying columns, and a brisk and destructive lire kepi up 
till they disappeared in the chaparral, or darkness put an end to 

the battle. 

This battery, under the skilful man;. I Captain Duncan, 

and with the aid oi the 8th infantry, commanded by Captain Mont- 
gomery, and Captain Ker's Bquadron of dragoons, was of immense 
service, at tins peculiar crisis, on our lefl line, and to the succ< ss- 
ful result of the battle. They al first gallantly held the enemy al 
bay, and finally drove him from the field with great loss. 'This 
terminated the action, and our army bivouacked on the ground it 
occupied, while that oi the Mexicans reined into the chaparral, in 
- of their position. 



BATTLE OF PALO ALTO. 



87 



The American force engaged in this battle is reported by Gen- 
eral Taylor to have been 177 officers, and 2,111 men — in all 2,288. 
The Mexican force, according to the statements of their own offi- 
cers, taken prisoners on the following day, was not less than six 
thousand regular troops, with ten pieces of artillery — the irregular 
force not known. Their loss is estimated by Arista, the command- 
er-in-chief, in his hasty dispatch, at two hundred and fifty-two 
killed, wounded, and dispersed ; and by General Taylor at not less 
than two hundred killed and four hundred wounded, made upon 
the actual number counted upon the field, and the reports of their 
own officers. But the loss of the enemy was far greater even 
than this. 



S8 LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 

CHAPTER XIII. 

Battle of Resaca de la Palma. 

On the morning of the 9th of May the Mexicans were discovere . 
from the position occupied by the American army on the field oi 
Palo Alto since the close of the battle the day previous, moving by 
their left flank from the ground occupied by them during the night, 
evidently in retreat, and as was thought to gain a new position on 
the road to Matamoras, and there again resist the advance of our 
army with the stores. General Taylor ordering the supply-train to 
be strongly parked at its position, leaving with it four pieces of ar- 
tillery, and sending the wounded officers and men back to Point 
Isabel, moved forward with the columns to the edge of the chapar- 
ral or forest, which extends to the Rio Grande, a distance oi - 
miles. The command of Captain McCall, fourth infantry, consist- 
ing of the light companies of the first brigade under Captain C. T 
Smith, Captain Walker with his Texas Rangers, detachment of 
artillery and infantry under Captain McCall and troop of second 
dragoons under Lieut. Pleasanton, in all two hundred and twenty 
men, were ordered to move forward into the chaparral, to feci the 
enemy and ascertain his position. 

Captain Smith moved on the right of the road, while Captain 
McCall advanced on the left with his detachment of artillery and 
infantry. Captain Walker with his company and a small detach- 
ment of mounted nun \v;is ordered to examine the road in front. 
and Lieut. Pleasanton with his dragoons marched in rear of the 
columns ol infantry. Having followed the trail of the enemy aboul 

two and a halt miles, through the chaparral, a prisoner was taken. 
and one of the enemy killed by Captain Walker's men. 

Having ci prairie and examined the opposite side. Captain 

Walker reported the road clear ; when desiring to obtain definite 
information as to the position ol the enemy, Captain McCall pushed 
him forward into the chaparral, (within supporting distance,) and 

one or two parties ol from three to si\ were seen in the bushes, 
and a mounted party was tired upon by the thinkers. 



BATTLE OF RESACA DE LA PALMA. 89 

On reaching the open ground at Resaca de la Palma, the nead 
of Captain McCall's column received three rounds of canister shot 
from a masked battery, which killed one private and wounded two 
sergeants on the left of the road, and made his men take cover. 
They rallied however handsomely within forty or fifty paces, 
Captain McCall now brought Captain Smith's detachment to the 
left of the road, proposing to attack by flank movement what he 
supposed to be only the rear-guard of the retiring army ; and he 
recalled Lieut. Dobbins, who, with a few men, had deployed to the 
left, where he had killed one or two of the enemy who had shown 
himself in his front. Being now satisfied that the Mexican army was 
in force on his front, Captain McCall dispatched three dragoons to 
inform General Taylor of the fact, and then moved his command 
to a stronger position to await his arrival. 

General Taylor, upon the receipt of this intelligence, at about 
three o'clock in the afternoon, immediately put his command in 
motion, and came up with Captain McCall about four o'clock. Cap- 
tain McC. reporting the enemy in force in front, occupying a ravine 
which intersects the road, and is skirted by thickets of dense chap- 
arral, General Taylor ordered Ridgley's battery, and the advance un- 
der Captain McCall, to be thrown forward on the road and into the 
chaparral on either side, while the fifth infantry, and one wing of 
the fourth, was thrown into the forest on the left, and the third, and 
the other wing of the fourth, on the right of the road. These 
corps were employed as skirmishers to cover the battery and en- 
gage the Mexican infantry. 

Lieutenant Ridgley now being in front with his light-artillery, 
Captain Walker was sent to point him out the enemy, and his ex- 
act position. After moving very cautiously for some time, Lieut. 
Ridgley discovered the Mexicans in the road, about four hundred 
yards in front, with their artillery, which they instantly opened. 
Lieut. Ridgley moved rapidly to the front, about one hundred yards, 
and returned their fire, which was kept up very spiritedly on both 
sides for some time, their grape-shot passing through Lieut. Ridg- 
ley's battery in every direction. So soon as it slackened he lim- 
bered up and moved rapidly forward, never unlimbering unless 
seeing them in front, or perceiving from the fire of their infantry 

12 



90 J.IKK OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 

the)' were on his flnnks, and discharging canister frequently from 
J of his pieces, at a distance of not over one hundred or one 
hundred and fifty yards from the enemy. He had advanced in this 
mann< i for about live hundred yards, when Captain .May of second 
dragoons, came up, under orders to charge the enemy's battery. 

Captain May. during the morning, had been actively engaged in 
reconnoitring the chaparral in advance of 'he army ; and was about 
half a mile from the position the enemy was reported to have taken, 
when he was ordered to charge the enemy's batteries and drive him 
from his pieces, which he proceeded rapidly to execute. When 
Captain May r< Rii gley, the latter discharged a volley 

to show the way, when May dashed gallantly on in column of fours 
at the head of his squadron, and was followed by Lieut. Ridgley 
and his command, on a gallop. 

Captain May drove the enemy from bis guns amidst a heavy fire, 
but with a loss of Lieutenant Inge, seven privates, and eighteen 
horses killed. Lieutenant Inge was gallantly leading his platoon 
when he fell; and Lieutenants Sergeant and Story, in the front, 
had their horses killed under them. 

Captain May charged entirely through the enemy's batteries of 
seven pieces. Captain Graham, accompanied by Lieutenants 
\\ inship and Pleasanton, leading the charge against the piei - 
the left of the road ; and himself, accompanied by Lieutenants 
Inge, Sackett, and Stevens, those on the direct road, and gained 
the rising ground on the opposite side of the ravine. After gaining 
'lie rising ground in the rear he could rally bul hx men, and with 
these he charged the enemy's gunners, who had regained their 
ve them off, and took j G La Vega, whom 

Mid gallantly fighting in person at his batl 

When Lieutenant l«' up to the ravine, three of the 

enemy's - of artillery were abandoned; their infantry, how- 

poured into linn a most galling fire, at from twenty-five to 

fifty paces; and here en-iied a operate Struggle; their 

cavalry coming - be reached by the sabre. The « 

infantry under Captain Montgomery now came up, and for a time 
was warmly engaged, but succeeded in Becuring the battery, and 

the regiment then charged upon the ravine and across the small 



BATTLE OF RESACA DE LA PALMA. 91 

prairie amidst a sheet of fire from the front, left, and right, drove the 
supporting column before it, destroying the enemy in vast numbers, 
they having maintained a most determined and obstinate resistance 
until finally repulsed and driven from the field. 

During this charge, the eighth infantry was joined by a part of 
the fifth infantry under the gallant Captain Martin Scott, who had 
just been engaged in a hot personal contest with the enemy, from 
which he was timely relieved by a part of the eighth infantry un- 
der Lieutenant Wood ; Lieutenants Ruggles and Crittenden with 
a small command of the fifth, with the eighth infantry, all under 
Captain Montgomery, routed the enemy's right wing, carrying 
his right battery, between which and his centre batteries had been 
posted the celebrated Tampico Regiment, all of which, except 
some seventeen men, fell in their position, making the most gallant 
and determined resistance. A part of the fifth infantry — Captains 
Wood's and Merrill's companies — under Colonel Mcintosh, 
charged across the enemy's position, carrying one of his centre 
batteries, and with the third and fourth infantry put to rout his left 
wing, in which gallant charge, Colonel Mcintosh fell dangerously 
wounded. Captain Marcy of the fifth infantry, with a small com- 
mand of that regiment, had turned the enemy's left flank, and 
taken a piece which, leaving in the rear, was removed by the 
enemy, but retaken by Captain Buchanan of the fourth infantry. 

The light companies of the first brigade, and the third and 
fourth regiments of infantry, had been deployed on the right of 
the road, when at various points they became briskly engaged with 
the enemy. The fourth infantry, under command of Brevet-Major 
Allen, advancing, discovered that the enemy were pouring a heavy 
fire of grape and musketry from a small breastwork just in front, 
defended by one piece of artillery and about 150 infantry. Cap- 
tain Buchanan was ordered to cross to the right and advance. He 
had in his command some thirty men of the regiment, together 
with Lieutenants Hays and Woods. He deployed his men upon 
the crest of the hill, charged, took the piece, and bore it back to a 
place of safety. The enemy had a breastwork in Captain Bu- 
chanan's rear, and opened a heavy fire on him ; when, with about 
ten men, he dislodged him and drove him across the road. Lieu- 



92 LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 

tenants Hays and Woods first reached the piece of ordnance and 
captured it, and were attacked in the act of bearing it away by a 
party of the enemy determined to regain it, which they repulsed. 

The 3d infantry, commanded by Captain Morris, was also de- 
ployed in the commencement of the engagement as skirmishers on 
the right of the road, the left resting on the road. The regiment 
advanced rapidly to the front, where it became exposed to a cross 
fire of both armies, but upon changing position joined in the action 
with service to the successful result. Captain Barbour, with his 
command, also repulsed a party attempting to retake the piece 
spoken of. 

The 4th regiment, after taking the battery, pushed forward until 
it emerged Groin the thicket into the main camp of the enemy, con- 
taining the head-quarters of the commanding general of the Mexi- 
can army, their ammunition, some 300 or 400 mules, saddles, 
and every variety of camp equipage, with the commander's offi- 
cial correspondence, which they captured. Lieutenant Cochrane 
fell at the edge of the camp whilst gallantly leading his men 
into it. 

The artillery battalion, excepting the flank companies, had 
ordered to guard the baggage-train, which was parked some dis- 
tance in the rear. That battalion was now ordered to pursue the 
enemy, and with the 3d infantry Captain Kit's dragoons, and 
Captain Duncan's battery, followed him rapidly to the river, ma- 
king a number of prisoners. Several of the enemy were drowned 
in attempting to cross the river near the town. The corps Last 
mentioned encamped near the river — the remainder of the army 
on the field of battle. 

The aggregate marching force under General Taylor this day 
was 2222. The actual number engaged with the enemy did not 
exceed 1700 men. The American loss was three officers and 

thirty-Si^ men killed, and sevenl\-ollc Wounded. 

The exact force of the .Mexican- is HOI known, but is sup, - 

by Genera] Taylor to have been 6000. Their loss in killed, 
wounded, and missing, in the two affairs, is estimated by General 
Taylor at 1000. Gen. Taylor remarks thus on the result of the 
tie : 



GENERAL TAYLOR CROSSES THE RIO GRANDE. 93 

" Our victory has been decisive. A small force has overcome 
immense odds of the best troops Mexico can furnish — veteran 
regiments perfectly equipped and appointed. Eight pieces of ar- 
tillery, several colors and standards, a great number of prisoners, 
including fourteen officers, and a large amount of baggage and 
public property, have fallen into our hands. 

" The causes of victory are doubtless to be found in the supe- 
rior quality of our officers and men. I have already, in former 
reports, paid a general tribute to the admirable conduct of the 
troops on both days ; it now becomes my duty, and I feel it to be 
one of great delicacy, to notice individuals." General Taylor then 
adverts to acts of individual gallantry, as we have also in other 
places. 

On account of General Taylor's limited means for crossing riv- 
ers, he was not able to prosecute so complete a victory, and greatly 
felt the necessity of a ponton train, such as he recommended to the 
department a year ago. He was therefore obliged to wait for 
heavy mortars, with which to menace the town from the left bank, 
and also the accumulation of small boats. He at length made ev- 
ery preparation to cross the river above the town, while Lieuten- 
ant-colonel Wilson made a diversion on the side of Barita, and the 
order of march was given out for ten o'clock on the 17th May, 
from the camp near Fort Brown, when he was waited on by Gen- 
eral Reguena, empowered by General Arista to treat for an armis- 
tice until the government should finally settle the question. 
General Taylor replied that an armistice was out of the question ; 
that a month since he had proposed one to Ampudia, which was 
declined, and that circumstances had now changed, &c. 

An answer from Arista was promised in the afternoon, but not 
coming, General Taylor commenced the crossing, with a view to 
take the town of Matamoras on the morning following. Upon land- 
ing on the other side no resistance was made, and he was soon in- 
formed from various quarters that Arista had abandoned the town 
with all his troops. A staff officer was immediately dispatched to 
the Prefect to demand a surrender, which was granted, and Gen- 
eral Taylor marched in and took possession of the town and public 
property left behind. 



94 LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

Incidents of Pebsonax Valor, Sec. 

Lieutenant C. D. Jordax. — In the battle of the 9th, when 
the 8th regiment to which he belongs was ordered to advance to 
support the bold charge of the dragoons, led by Captain May, 
Lieutenant Jordan, with his company, rushed on the enemy, com- 
pelled them to break their ranks, and fight in detached squads, 
which, after a brief but severe contest, were destroyed or disp - 
Lieutenant Jordan, seeing a party of five Mexicans firing on our 
forces, rushed upon them sword in hand, expecting thai he was 
supported by three soldiers of the regiment. " Two or three shots 
were dis I at him when at the distance of only a few paces, 

but fortunately missed him ; and at this instant he perceived he 
was alone, his men having met with other enemies, and his foes 
were prepared to receive him with the bayonet. It was do time 
for hesitation. He made a blow with his sword at the nearest 
Mexican, which wounded him severely, although it was partly par- 
ried with his musket ; and at this critical moment his fool struck 
something, he stumbled, fell forward to the ground, and lost his 
sword. Before he could recover his feel he received three bayonet 
stabs in his body; but he threw himself on one of the Mexicans, 
wrenched his cutlass from his hand, when he was fired upon by 
another, and a buck-shot was lodged in his arm near the shoulder, 
and one passed through his arm. He fell upon his back, and his 
9 were about to dispatch him, when Lieutenant ('. Lincoln, 
having vanquished those previously opp — d t>> him, hastened with 
others in good time to the rescue Lieutenant Lincoln cut down 

one of the Mexicans, whosi comi immediately subdued." 

Li i:i n:\wt Blake. — On the morning of the 8th, Cencral 
Taylor rode down his line and surveyed his command. He wished 
to ascertain whether the enemy had artillery, and how much. For 
this purpose Captain May was ordered out with a Bquadron to 



INCIDENTS OF PERSONAL VALOR. 95 

reconnoitre, and, if possible, draw a fire from the enemy ; but to 
no purpose. Lieutenant Blake of the topographical engineers now- 
offered to go forward alone and reconnoitre. A brother officer vol- 
unteered to accompany him, and they set out together on horse- 
back, and dashed to within eighty yards of the enemy's line. 
" Lieutenant Blake alighted from his horse and with his glass sur- 
veyed the whole line, the American army looking on with astonish- 
ment. Just then two Mexican officers rode out towards them, but 
they drawing their pistols, the Mexicans halted. Lieut. Blake 
and his companion now mounted and galloped down their line to 
the other end, and returned, having procured the information neces- 
sary, which was, that the enemy had two batteries, one composed 
of seven, and the other five pieces. They but reached their own 
line when the batteries opened and the work of destruction com- 
menced. 

" Lieutenant Blake was the next day killed by the accidental dis- 
charge of his own pistol. He had thrown his sword, to which his 
pistols were attached, to the ground, on entering his tent. One 
pistol was discharged, and the ball entering his thigh was taken out 
of his breast. He died in three hours afterwards, regretting he 
had not been killed the day before. He was a native of Phila- 
delphia, a noble fellow, and an ornament to the army." 

Captain Allen Lowd, second artillery, occupied an important 
position in the works opposite Matamoras during the siege. He 
was the senior artillery officer present. A correspondent of the 
Albany Argus thus speaks of Captain Lowd and the part he took : 

" On the morning of the 3d of May, for six successive hours 
did Captain Lowd pour his fire into the enemy's batteries and into 
the town of Matamoras; his men working their guns till they were 
nigh totally exhausted, and he himself in the thickest of the fire, 
the enemy's balls flying round him and his men like hail — the 
Mexicans having concentrated their fire on his buttery. His cap 
was blown from his head by the wind of a passing ball, and the 
guns near his person were frequently struck by the shot, which 
the enemy, with wonderful precision, fired through the embrasures. 
It is almost miraculous that neither he nor any one of his company 



96 LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR. 

was injured. Officers and men were covered with the sand which 
the enemy's balls, striking near, ploughed from the faces of the 
embrasures and the edge of the parapet. 

" Independent of Captain Lowd's energy and activity during the 
fight with the enemy, his calmness and discretion during the whole 
of the siege were such as to elicit the admiration of all, and to 
render his counsel in those long, perilous hours, of infinite value to 
those who sought it." 

The following named officers are natives of the State of New 
York, and were engaged in the defence of Fort Brown, and in the 
actions of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma. The names will 
suggest the proud part the Empire State took in these affairs. 

ENGAGED IN DEFENCE OF FORT BROWN. 

Second Regiment Artillery — Lieutenant A. B. Lansing. 

Seventh Regiment Infantry — Captain E. S. Hawkins. 

do. do. do. Captain D. P. Whiting. 

do. do. do. Lieutenant J. C. Henshaw. 

do. do. do. Lieutenant F. (Gardner. 

do. do. do. Lieutenant 11. B. Cuts. 

do. do. do. Lieutenant \V. K. Van Bokkelen. 

PRESENT IN THE ACTIONS OF 8TII AND 9TH MAY. 

General Staff — Captain W. W. S. Bliss, Assistant Adjutant-general. 
\|. d cal Staff— Dr. .M. Mills. 

First luLMiiKiit Artillery — Lieutenant J. S. Hatheway. 
Second Regiment Artillery — Captain J. Duncan, commanding company 
Horse Artillery. 

do. do. do. Lieutenant L Chase. 

do. do. do. Lieutenant .1. J. Peck. 

Third Regiment Artillery— Lieutenant W. H. Churchill. 
Fourth Regiment Artillery— Brevet Major W. W. .Morris. 

do. do. Lieutenant C. Benjamin. 

Second Regiment Dragoons — Lieutenant F. Hamilton. 

do. da il"- Lieutenant O. F. Winahip. 

do. do. do. Lieutenant 1>. II. Socket 

Third Regiment Infantry — Captain L. N. .Morris. 

do. do. do. Captain II. Bamhridge. 

do. do. do. Captain G. P. Field- 

da do. do. Lieutenant W. S. Henry. 

Fourth Regiment Infantry — Captain P. Moi 

do. do. do. Captain Gouverneur Morris. 

Fifth Regiment Infantry — Lieutenant M. Roeecranta 
Eighth Regiment Infantry — Brevet Lieuti aant-colone] Belknap. 

Captain II M< Kavett 

Captam J. V. BomfonL 

Lieutenant .1 V. 1>. Reeve. 

Lieutenant ( '■ K. 1 1 

Lieutenant C. F. Morris. 



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D. Appleton fy Co. have recently published, 
TWENTY- FOUR YEARS 

IN 

THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC; 

EMBRACING ITS CIVIL AND MILITARY HISTORY, 

And an account of its Political Condition, before and during the Admitiistiation of Governor Rosas ; his Course of Policy j 
the Causes and Character of his Interference with the Government of Montevideo, and the Circum- 
stances which led to the Interposition of England and France. 

BY COL. J. ANTHONY KING, 

An Officer in the Army of the Republic, and twenty-four years a resident of the country. 

One handsome volume, 12mo. $1. 

Summary op Contents. — Departure from New- York— the Army of the Argentine — Battle with Gen. Artigas — Treach- 
ery of the Supreme Director, Pursedon — Carrere's Expedition toward Chili— Battles of tho Punta San Luis, and Villa do 
Ranchos — Defeat and Death of Gen. Ramarez — Treachery of Echagua— Gen. Bustes— Fate of Carrere— Tho Cordilloras — 

Army of Co-operation for Alto Peru — War between the Provinces of Salta and Tucuman — Great Battle of Tucuman The 

great Cavrado de Humaguaca— Expedition into Alto Peru — Siege, and Battle of Carriparee— The Chiriviono Indians— Sojourn 
among the Chirivione Indians — Col. Gerrure — Surprise and Capture of the town of Pascaye in Peru — The Mattacca Indians—. 

Supremacy of the Church — Persecution — Journey toward the Frontier — Earthquake — Ruins of Estcca Celebration of 

Neustra Sefiora de losdolores— Catholic Superstition — Death of Governor Rouze of Tucuman — Santiago— Journey to Cata- 
marca — Gen. Queroga — Oppression of tho English Miners — Cordova — Independence of Uruguay — Revolution at Buenos 
Ayres — Death of Gov. Dorago— Entrance of Gen. Paz into the city of Cordova — Buenos Ayres besieged by Rosas— Capitula- 
tion and triumphant entrance — The Unitarians and the Federals — Despotic course of Rosas— Revolution in the Interior- 
Arrest and Imprisonment — Gov. Paz and his flatterers — The Cavildo — Mode3 of Execution — Quiroga's Campaigns against 
Cordova — Battles of the Tablada and the Lagona Lago — Flight of Quiroga — Provincial Congress at Cordova, and Declaration 
against Rosas — Expedition against Cordova — Downfall of tho Unitarians and supremacy of Rosas — Murder of Quiroga and 
Ortis — Execution of the Ranafes and Gov. Rodriguez— Rosas' interference with Montevideo— Revolution under Savaliaand 
Rivera— French Protest — Reign of Terror at Buenos Ayres— The Massorca Club— Rebellion in the South— Paragua— French 
Blockade — Insurrection at the North — Death of Lavalia — Resignation of Oribo and election of Rivera President of Uruguay- 
Don Manuel de Masa— Sacrilegious adulation of the Priesthood— Attempt to restrict tho Execution power— Cienfuiga— . 
Oribe's Expedition to the North — Dona Mnnuela — Brutal policy of the Dictator — Arrest and Murder of young Masa — Assas- 
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— Removal of the Blockade — Invasion of the Banda Oriental— Intervention of England and Franco— Rosas and his Represen- 
tatives—Summary of Victims— Remarks on the Political Condition of the Country— Its Products— Customs of tho People, &c. 

" This narrative of tbe Civil Wars in the Argentine Republic embraces from the period of the expulsion of the Spaniards, 
to 1841, and is replete with matters of thrilling interest, and exhibits in a concise manner the mass of contending elements 
that have so long distracted that interesting country. The political history of Rosas, his course of policy, the origin of his 
invasion of tho Banda Oriental, and the ordeal of blood through which the people are parsing under his rulo. are all exhibited 
in this work, rendering it one of the utmost interest to tho historian, tho statesman, and tho general reader." 

ANIMAL MAGNETISM, 

OR 

PSYCODUNAMY. 

BY THEODORE LEG EH y 

Doctor of the Medical Faculty of Paris ; late Professor of Anatomy at the Practical School ; Fellow of the Society of Sciences 
and Art3 of the Dep. de la Mame ; late Professor of the Medical College of Mexico, etc. 
One neat volume, 12mo. Price $1 25. 
CONTENTS. — First Section— Academical Histort. Introduction. Chap. I. — The name. II.— Psycodunamy 
versus Prejudices. III. — First Academical Report on Psycodunamy in 1825. IV. — Academical Discussion of the First Re- 
port. — Opinion of Drs. Desgenettes, Con. — Virey, Pro. — Bally, Con. — Orfila, Pro. — Double, Con — Laennec, Con. — Chardel, 
Pro. — Rochoux, Con. — Marc, Pro. — Nncquart, Con. — Itard, Pro — Recamier, Con. — Georgot, Con. — Magendic, Con. — Guer- 
sent, Pro. — Gasc, Con.— Lerminier, Pro V. — Answer of the Committee to the Objections made against their Report, and 
.results of the Secret Voting on the Question. VI. — Report upon the Psycodunamic Experiments by tho Committee of the 
Koyal Academy of Paris— 1831. VII. — Dr. Ilerna's Experiments and Report on them by M. Oubois d'Amiens — 1S37. VIII.— 
Opinion of Dr. Husson on tho Report of M. Dubois d'Amiens. IX.— Academical Report i the Communication of Dr. Pige- 
aire (of Montpelier) on Psycodunamic Facts, and its Consequences. Second Section General Distort. Chap. 1. — 
History of Psycodunamy in the Ages of Antiquity. — Psycodunamy among tbe Indians. Persians, Egyptians, Hebrews. Greeks, 
feomans and Gauls. II. — Psycodunamy through the Middle Ages till tho days of Mesmer. III. — Mesmer. IV. — Discovery 
of Psycodunamic Somnambulism. V.— Psycodunamic Experiments in the Public Hospitals of Paris. VI.— Psycodunamy in 
England. VII. — Psycodunamy in the United States. 

"Tho author seeks to substitute a new word for tho popular term Magnetism in Psycodunamy, a Greek compound, signi- 
fying the power of the soul. His first chapter discusses this nar:: >, snd disposes of tho various terms " Mesmerism," " Neu- 
rology," " Pathctism," &e. The second treats of " prejodicos" on this topic, with a shot or two al tho physicians. Then 
follows a critical examination of the Academical History of the Science, with 'he roportB for and against, Another division 
Carries Magnetism or Psycodunamy far back in the history of the world among the Egyptians, Persians, and others, follows it 
through the middle ages to tho experiments of Mesmer, and describes its subseqn ''am, England, and the UaU t 

ted States." — Morning News. 




I 



APPLETON'S LITERARY MISCELLANY 
NEW VO -NOW READY, 

THE PEOPLE. 

MICHELET, 

Author of 1 * The History ofFlU r.slnted by G. II. Smith, F. G. 8. 

i-enu cloth G3 cU. 

PART ITRBT. Or Sutiih '■ II —Servitudes of the Workman da-{ 

i the Workman. IV.— Servitude*: of the M a n i if actui 

m. VII.— P li and ofllic Boargi',,-. "\" 1 1 1 . 

nchisemk*t »t Lots. — N 
altered, but ;• 
-?es. IV.— Ol" ibe • 

their Favor. VII. — 

IX.— U< 

IfaTiTi ■ titiun. IV.— Ou I.— Are! 

li^iun. V1L The Faith of ibe Revolution It tli.I nni 

: /111.— No Education without Faith. IX.— God in . .—Tho Young Country of lb..- Future.— * 

No. 13. 

THE LIFE OF MARTIN LUTHER, 

ROM EIIS OWN WRIT] 

BY 

Autliorof " The Hi Jtor . he Roman Rcpul.lic," olc. etr. 

Translated by G. U. Smith, I'. <:. S. ry of Franco," etc. 

Onun cent*. 

CONTF.NTs 1 .— Boos I. A D. "f Luther— His Ordination, Temptations, and 

II.— 1 Dt her attack* the I Ungeo— 

Worms— Hi 
turns to Witti i '» authority— Hie Writings against ll 

I i u 1 1 , i. c . 1 11 . — C 

- 

ip. I.— The Turks ! 
A i III.— J 

Chan. I.— Luther's Conversations on Du. ,!o— The 

Futhors , Krarna— 

v 

therms Father, ofhis Daughter, &c II— < >f I 
IV —Of" In 
loubU of his Friends and 1 wn. Doubts. - ions. VIL— Oil Ailments 

Longings for Death and Judgment— Death, A. D. 1540. 

No. 14. 

THE LIFE OF MRS. GODOLPHIN, 

WITH EXTRACTS FROM UVAl CORRESPONDENCE. 
BY JOHN EVELYK. 

(Now first publishod from the Original Manuscript.) 

LATELY PUBLISHED. 

No. 1 

s» We know D, than Gertrude." 

i 

I alian of Ali 

i 

i 
[ 

n p I :ll8. 

iur ancestors prior t 

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M \s Cablylb; 

•!,l the exhanst 

i 

KosTt, 'AH LITER \HV M a Gal 

I entire from the London edition. Papa 

i familiar to us, his hook is one which cannot fail to bo road with i 

[STOR^ I SOLUTION OF HMO; commonly called the Grea 

Charles I. to hi.- death. By F. Gcuot, the Prime Mini* 

" \< ..rk .il Lhrilli ' iting to somo of tho most important and stirring events in Eng 

lish II ridity."— '/"ribunf. 

r" OF CIVILIZATION IN EUROPE, from the Fall of th. 

1 Bl F. Guizot, the Prime Minister of France. &c. A 

1 1 1» . Profi M m ol History and Philosophy iu the Uni 

i cover 75 cents, or one vol., cloth, SI. 

"A work eloMly luiiing nothing useless, omitting nothing essential, written with grace, and concoivoi 

and arranged with consummate ability." 



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